Fourways-based non-profit organisation on a mission to conscientise men of GBV in their communities
MIDRAND – Community activist urged men from all walks of life to rise up to the occasion and get involved in the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence.
In a bid to combat the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in communities, a Fourways-based non-profit organisation, Stand United South Africa, in partnership with TRSS security company hosted a Men Arise breakfast event on 31 October.
Addressing dozens of men who attended the event, community activist and co-founder of Stand United SA, Ryno Schutte quoted Irish philosopher Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,”
He urged men from all walks of life to rise up to the occasion and get involved in the fight against the scourge of gender-based violence.
“Most of us men are broken and we bottle up anger within ourselves, as we grow up and that affects our children and those we love as time goes by,” Schutte said.
“Through this men’s event we wanted to raise awareness and encourage men to rise above the occasion in a fight against gender-based violence. We want to offer men a platform to speak out and share their pain and difficulties with other men.”
Founder of Dads in the Picture non-profit organisation, which promotes and encourages active and positive parenting amongst fathers and nurturing the well-being of all children, Mesh Kekana said men need to get to a point of understanding that not only material provision makes one a real man. “Most of us men think that bringing money home and providing material needs is enough to make our children happy.”
Kekana added, “We need to get to a point as fathers where we realise that talking to our children and giving them attention they crave for while they are young can make a huge difference to what they become in future.
“Most of us who are fathers today, were deprived of an opportunity to have conversations with our fathers. That led to some boys who are men today to become monsters instead of protectors of their families. We must encourage a culture of speaking out about as men to end gender-based violence in our communities.”
