Qina Jita holds boys to men forum

Boys and men across different generations have vowed to challenge the status quo and bring about a new generation of South African men who will improve and change what it means to be a man.

These were sentiments shared at the Qina Jita imbizo, a boy to men discussion aimed to build values, dismantle patriarchy and the misconstrued societal outlook of what a man is or what is deemed acceptable.

The imbizo in its second year running was held under the banner Walk With Me as it seeks to provide a platform to nurture and foster honest conversations about the pressing issues faced by young men.

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In his Introduction, Qina Jita founder, Neo Moseta highlighted the alarming figures of absent fathers in the country.

“The stats we continue to see are concerning. We cannot deny the impact of a father’s role. These are things that affect the child’s wellbeing.

“I used to sell weed at school so I could get cash and make ends meet, I don’t want these young boys to go through the same.

“So through Qina Jita, we want to make provisions for these boys to change their outlook on life and push them to keep going to school,” he said.

“The event is to give men a platform to reflect, to tell stories, in their perspectives, and own voices. Everyone has a story.”

Proceedings kicked off with sporting games, with the main programme getting underway later. Boys who attended the gathering spoke about their own life experiences, with one speaker detailed his journey of trying to find his father, who he was absent from his life, and the disappointment he encountered after not finding him. A second speaker spoke about experiences of battling suicide attempts.

Orlando Pirates Centre Middle Fielder, Thabang Monare applauded the initiative, citing that as a young boy, there were no events tailored for boys and men. They instead got that from the streets.

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“There is a lot happening out there and men are in danger. Movements like these keep boys and young men in check.”

Speaking to younger boys in attendance, he said, “life is full of hurdles, where you feel like giving up, but do not give up.”

The event included a business pitch sponsored by Sleep Monk CEO, Thabo Serame worth R5000 to draft a business plan, website, and entrepreneurial mentorship.

Qina Jita Partner, Actor, Leader, and Community Builder, Muzi Mthabela challenged young men to refuse to be victims of their society and encouraged them to grow up. He said the thing men need most is to change their mind-set.

Moseta added, “Through the organisation, we run an annual shoe drive for disadvantaged boys in schools. We would like to ask the nation to assist in getting school shoes for these boys. We are also looking to add cosmetics for boys as well.”