MORE than 200 high school boys gathered on Tuesday, 16 May, to celebrate the International Day of the Boy Child.
Fidelitas Comprehensive School in Soweto partnered with Primestars, a national leader in youth empowerment, to host a conversation about a boy's life and later watched a movie called What about the boys?
The boys were given the task to defining masculinity, demystifying the myth of masculinity and addressing the traditional expectations of manhood.
Nkosinathi Moshoana, Primestars COO, believes 'we can ensure that the next generation of boys and men are raised differently'.
"We are a fatherless nation, but through determined programmes like What About the Boys?, we can provide these boys with mentors who will inspire them to be better men in the future. Celebrating this day is significant to the nationwide project that Primestars initiated last year and will continue to grow annually."
Joe Sigela of Gauteng Social Development, under the wing Men's Forum, told Daily Sun they're promoting good behaviour among boys and men.
"We are here to say that we are proud of Primestars for this initiative. Under normal circumstances, a boy child is never celebrated. This is a special day to create a better man for the future and a better society," he said.
Cornet Mamabolo, former Skeem Saam actor, told Daily Sun that he's running a project with his company called Take a Boy Child to Work.
"The message I have for the young boys is that they must take care of their well-being, their mental health and strive to be good men in a society.
"Boys need to enjoy being boys and avoid pressure of being a man," he said.
Siphosihle Mamonynae, a grad 9 pupil, told Daily Sun that he's grateful for the lessons and will use them to become a better person and a good dad in the future.
