Dipak Rana Magar once said: “If anyone tries to pick up something using their hand they need at least two fingers supporting each other. Likewise if we want to end violence against girls, women and other boys, both males and females from the community should support each other. We (boys) are the other complementary finger.”
Society erroneously assumes that the boy child somehow does not need to be nurtured to manhood, so society is set up to neglect the boy child and does not embrace the right avenues to nurture him. By this neglect, we are creating limitations for the holistic development of the boy and are building a society where boys grow up to become challenged men, and by this, we are creating a dysfunctional society. We must already remember the other complementary finger.
As we navigate the spaces boys live in, we should examine the extent to which boys and girls are exposed to risks and identify their vulnerabilities, taking into account their economic, social, physical and environmental circumstances. Boys, girls and women are more susceptible to tragedies overall because of their heightened susceptibility to all of these factors. Enhance boys' and girls' abilities and knowledge by providing them with guidance, exposure, awareness, social mobilisation and other pertinent activities. Remember that this calls for proactive, gender-responsive community involvement.
I acknowledge there is a global crisis facing the boy child, and now is the time to pay attention to it. The social environment of the boy child today has become a turbulent one; he is vulnerable to myriad negative forces and has no clue how to surmount them.
The Primestars initiative, What About The Boys, is shaping the future of individual boys and contributing to developing a generation of empowered men who can lead, inspire and positively shape the world.
Let's commit to providing our boys with the resources they need to succeed, ensuring they grow into the confident, capable men they will become.
Millions of lives are affected by gender-based violence annually, a problem still prevalent worldwide. It is imperative to tackle cultural norms and preconceptions that sustain violence, to eradicate the underlying cause.
Boys are more prone to internalising negative cultural norms and behaviours that support gender inequity from an early age. Schools may be crucial in ending this pattern by helping males develop empathy and imparting the values of respect, decency and inclusivity. Through the teaching of life skills, schools play an essential role in transforming young boys into gentlemen who oppose gender-based violence.
One in three women worldwide have been the victim of physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Much of Sub-Saharan Africa is plagued by intimate-partner violence, with 36% of women reporting having experienced it — 6% higher than the global average. Compared with women worldwide, African women are 11.9% more likely to be sexually assaulted and 46.5% more likely to endure lifelong relationship abuse. Human rights violations against women and girls are widespread and persistent, upsetting family and community harmony and stability.
It is for this reason that CHIETA, in partnership with Primestars, is implementing the What About The Boys programme. This programme aims to shape young minds foundationally with conflict resolution, communication, decision-making, problem solving and violence-prevention skills that will make them well-grounded citizens and agents of change.
Life skills education equips children with soft skills including communication, empathy, respect, critical thinking, decision-making and dispute resolution. It promotes gender sensitivity and values gender differences from an early age. By teaching boys to respect the autonomy and dignity of every human being, they can reject violence as a form of expression and foster a generation that values the autonomy and dignity of all.
Active conversations among young men on gender equality can foster a tranquil society and prevent violence. Schools should educate young men on conflict resolution skills to promote egalitarianism. By incorporating gender-sensitive life skills teaching, institutions can shape transformational men with empathy and respect.
Empowering young men is the first step towards achieving gender equality, as they can develop compassionate leaders who question social conventions, encourage emotional intelligence and stand up for their rights. Together, we can build a society where people of all genders can prosper and influence a just future.
In the long term, it will be beneficial to invest in producing outstanding men, particularly when it comes to the freedom and safety of women and girls living in communities. Douglas Wilson once stated: “If boys don't learn, men won't know.” For us to build good men of tomorrow, we are going to continue to empower the boy children of today.
• Yershen Pillay is theCEO of the Chemical Industries Education & Training Authority (CHIETA), a statutory body which facilitates skills development in the South African chemical industries sector
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