Gents House Africa, an NPO boasting over 4 000 male members, recently significantly impacted Amos Maphanga Secondary School in Etwatwa.
The group, dedicated to mentoring and supporting young men, donated sanitary pads, soccer balls and water bottles to the learners.
Scelo Thusi, the co-ordinator of Gents House Africa, reflected on the group’s origins and mission.
“It all started on Facebook when we created a group of men to provide a platform to share our problems openly and support each other. In today’s world, being a man can be challenging, often with negative stereotypes and labels.
“Our goal is to show that not all men are ‘trash’ and to uplift future leaders,” said Thusi.
He emphasised the importance of their recent initiative, saying the government often overlooks young women’s menstrual health needs.
“We want to teach young men to support their sisters and not fear helping them during these times. Excluding boys from such projects could reinforce negative societal views.”
Thusi grew up without a father and described it as tough.
“I saw the good and bad of men through my own family. My mother’s struggles with my stepfather contrasted with the lessons from my uncle about treating women with respect. These experiences shaped my belief that men, despite their flaws, play a vital role in protecting and caring for others.”
Support
Gents House Africa operates solely on the contributions of its members, with no external sponsors.
Thusi noted, “Everything we do comes from our own pockets. Our past projects, like building a house for a family in eMandeni, KZN, have motivated us greatly. We also support street vendors and aim to tackle drug abuse and crime in our communities.”
He highlighted the benefits of their recent donation, saying, “Men’s involvement in menstrual health and education helps young women build open relationships with their fathers and brothers. For fathers to surprise their daughters with such essentials to foster strong, supportive relationships is crucial.”
Thusi is satisfied with the project’s outcome.
“We had to dig deep into our pockets to accommodate every child after determining the number of needy girls. The teachers and learners’ response was overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
Cordelia Nkosiyaphantsi, the deputy principal and co-ordinator of the school-based support team, praised the initiative.
“Our 575 girl learners, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, will greatly benefit from this donation. They will no longer miss school due to a lack of sanitary products. It is wonderful to have such local support,” Nkosiyaphantsi said.
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