It is important that boys from a young age understand their role in life, says Allister Lightburn, Ward 29 councillor.
Youngsters were challenged during the sessions to think outside the box and seek alternative points of view, and not just to look at a problem through the prism of their personal circumstances. This was seen as a stepping stone to seeing who they are differently particularly when seeking employment, studying, entrepreneurship and so on.
In groups men looked at what defines them, what they think others see and think when looking at them, how they see themselves and their role in the community and how they see themselves as leaders in the home setting as well as community.
Lightburn said the programme also stressed setting proper goals and how to be accountable for their future as men in the community he said.
The programme was designed to interact with men and ask them what made them move from point A to point B. This interactive approach is for them to engage with the facilitators without feeling they were being attacked or belittled.
Lightburn said the City of Cape Town Department of Social Development organised a series of workshop sessions for young boys from Mamre, entitled “Boys for Change”, which covered such topics as “What defines you as a man?”, “What is your role as a man in the community?”, “What is your role as a leader?”
Lightburn said it was important for such goal-oriented programmes to be rolled out to other parts of his ward.
