Adapt hopes to transform Alex men
ALEXANDRA - Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (Adapt) held a men’s conference at the Sankopano Centre on 5 December as part of its on-going fight to combat the rampant abuse of women and children in the township.
Agisanang Domestic Abuse Prevention and Training (Adapt) held a men’s conference at the Sankopano Centre as part of its ongoing fight to combat the rampant abuse of women and children in the township.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Peter Mahani of Adapt’s Men’s Programme said the purpose of the conference was to inculcate good fatherhood within men in Alexandra.
“We want to encourage good fatherhood for our children because without that element in upbringing, our children will most likely grow up with weeds [sic] and indulge in all sorts of mischief as they lack guidance and a father figure in the home.”
Mahani said good fatherhood, as research had shown, tended to produce better children who also turned out to be responsible citizens.
“Our children need role models and in many cases you, as their fathers, play a major role in their development, and you need to be good role models,” he told his audience which comprised a majority of men with a sprinkle of women too.
During the interval, the Young Women’s Movement, another component of Adapt, dramatised a riveting play that aptly drove the message home about the scourge of teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancies and the issue of domestic violence. The play was entitled Unfinished Young Woman.
After the play, master of ceremonies and Adapt facilitator, Thapelo Ratlogo urged the audience to choose what type of fathers they would like to be or would like to see in their community.
“Do you choose to be the abusive father or the loving one, the responsible or irresponsible one – the choice is yours but I am sure you understand the consequences of an abusive father, and the benefits of a responsible dad in your household as enunciated in the show,” he said.
“As men, we want to erase this picture of us as monsters waiting to pounce on females in our society. We want to say, ‘not in our name any more’ as we want to create a better life for our children and their mothers.”
Details: Adapt 011 786 6608; ADAPT@worldonline.co.za
