On Saturday, Enthused Media agency hosted an event about gents to men as well as fathers and their role in the community at Moriting Primary School, Mapetla.
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The purpose of the event was to look at how far men have moved away from their identity of being fathers in their communities. Most significantly the discussions were amongst fathers and what they need to do better in order for the young to do right.
Event host, Pastor Bongani Gama urged men to groom one another instead of labelling each other by their struggles and challenges.
“As men we need to speak in one voice in order to prepare young men to lead violent free communities, we have to leave this event as men, not boys.”
According to Pastor Themba Thanjekwayo one of the panellists at the event, life is a relay and these young men should mirror how to lead societies from them. He believes that they have failed and that is why the world has grown to fear the sight of men.
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“We are supposed to be mentors to the boy child. You cannot as a father instruct your children to be at home before 18:30 while you come in at 12:00 midnight and expect them learn discipline,” said Pastor Thanjekwayo.
“It is high time we maintain and live by the same standards that we expect our children to obey and live by,” he adds.
Another discussion was about the issue of men who do not believe in visiting a clinic for regular check-ups because they fear to be deemed as vulnerable.
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There is a multitude of reasons why men are not visiting the doctor as often as they should. Some of these issues include fear of getting bad news or the general hope that health issues will just resolve themselves.
Siphiwe Kubheka from Men Health Tladi Clinic in Soweto reminded men about the importance of visiting the clinic.
“In this age that we are living in, it is important to show young men that going to the clinic to enquire about your health does not mean you are weak.
“This only means that you are living up to your identity as a protector. It says you want to take care of yourself as well as your loved ones.”
The gent to men event is an on-going process meant to change the mind-set of men and motivate them to take their position in their families and their communities.
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