BOYS ENCOURAGED TO DEFINE THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY TO COMBAT SOCIAL ILLS

By Thuba Vilane

• The KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Ms Mbali Shinga, has launched the Boy’s Assembly in the Drakensberg, challenging young men to develop innovative strategies to eradicate social ills.
• The assembly, which unites participants from various districts, aims to facilitate discussions on critical issues such as drug abuse, bullying, and the impact of absent fathers, while also encouraging boys to respect women’s rights and foster equitable norms.
• This initiative is part of a broader effort by the department to empower boys through programmes like MenCare+ and Boys Championing Change, focusing on their social well-being and encouraging them to become ambassadors for positive change in their communities.

The KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC, Ms Mbali Shinga, has inspired young men attending the Boy’s Assembly currently underway in the Drakensberg. The aim is to challenge them to develop groundbreaking strategies to confront and eradicate the scourge of social ills once and for all.

MEC Shinga recently opened this important assembly, which brings together participants from various districts across the province. The fundamental question posed is how boys can play a vital role in creating a society free from violence and cruelty. The gathering also seeks to drive capacity building that will encourage a paradigm shift in long-held beliefs and experiences regarding masculinity, gender, and sexuality.

“The assembly provides a space for boys to identify equitable norms that promote women’s self-efficacy, self-esteem, and respect for their human rights. While more focus has been placed on girls, we felt it was crucial to bring boys together to share their views and experiences,” said MEC Shinga.

The boys were given the opportunity to engage with the MEC through intergenerational dialogue, raising various pressing issues such as drug and substance abuse, infectious diseases, crime, and bullying in schools. They highlighted the lack of parental support and absent fathers as contributing factors to the rising levels of social ills. The boys expressed appreciation for the assembly and vowed to collaborate with their communities to create a safer environment for girls.

This programme is part of several initiatives pioneered by the department to enhance the social wellbeing of boys. “For too long, we have focused primarily on girls, causing boys to fall through the cracks. Now, we are empowering them. The department has developed social behavioural change programmes aimed at boys, including the MenCare+ programme and Boys Championing Change, which are implemented across the province. We want to encourage them not to be confined by their circumstances,” added the Head of Department, Mrs. Nelisiwe Vilakazi.

The programme will conclude on Friday, 27 September 2024. Boys are also expected to propose suggestions that will positively influence future initiatives and become ambassadors for change in their communities and schools.