In an effort to build positive role-models in the community of Lwandle and surrounding areas, the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum hosted a discussion under the theme “Men under construction”.
The engagement took place on Saturday 18 June at the museum, with men discussing what it means to be a man, what the community expects from men and how they should behave in society.
The day also saw men talk about issues affecting them and seek better ways to deal with their challenges, instead of resorting to alcohol abuse and violence.
Men were encouraged to speak up and be positive influences where they come from.
Stereotypes such as men don’t cry, seen as a sign of weakness, were lambasted.
Such things forced men to harbour their pain and not share their feelings.
Museum manager Masa Soko said gender-based violence, especially incidents that have received media coverage, has made many realise that although there are men doing horrible things to women there are also many who are not perpetrators and want to see change.
She said: “We wanted to focus on these men, encourage them and equip them so they can go out there and teach other men to be better human beings, what it means to be a men and to be better role models in the community. We hope that by doing so the number of GBV cases will decrease and children will regain their trust in men, and women will be safe.”
“Now they will know the intrinsic value of being their true selves, a work in progress, said Soko. “We decided on the theme ‘Men under construction’ because we realised building men up is a process, one that will see them improve and create a safer community.”
Phumlani Ntloko of Masincedane Community Service (MCS), a Helderberg-based registered non-profit organisation that initiates various developmental programmes to alleviate poverty and promote economic development of the unemployed of Cape Town, also attended the discussion.
He called on men to stop using alcohol, thinking it will address their challenges without facing them head on.
“As men we need to take a drink socially and not use drink to get away from our challenges at home. If anything we’ll find them. Whatever situation you may be facing, find people you can reach out too and speak too,” he said.
He said such discussions were helpful as they helped shape upcoming young men’s mindsets, so they can deal better with challenges in their communities.
Mava Silumko, another attendee, urged men to act better, for so many wrongs in society are committed by men.
“The killing and rape of women and children are committed by men,” he said. We need to change that narrative now – and rightly so – so we are called thrash because of actions of men in our communities that commit such atrocities,” he said.
Silumko said each men needed to play a role in his community so that young boys grow up inspired to be better men when they grow.