South Africa is a country that continues to be plagued by sexual assault, intimate partner violence and rape, all of which are forms of Gender Based Violence.
These abuses that are perpetuated on women, continue to cause psychological trauma to the point where they don’t feel safe in their homes or communities, and have started to ask the question #AmINext?
According to a 2010 Gauteng sample, 76% of men admitted to have committed GBV at one stage in their lives, while the 2019/2020 SAPS Crime Stats show that 53 293 sexual offence cases were reported, an average of 146 per day, an increase from 52 420 cases in 2018/19.
Statistics conducted by the World Health Organisation reveal the extent of this scourge in communities as 2 695 women were murdered in South Africa in 2019/2020, which means one woman was murdered every three hours, while femicide is five times higher in South Africa than the global average.
With statistics this high, it comes as no surprise that women in South Africa feel that #MenAreTrash.
While the government has initiatives to try and eradicate GBV and femicide through its “16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children,” the SylvesterMashilo Foundation feels that it’s not enough to simply shine the spotlight on an issue that affects women and society on a daily basis, for only 16 days in the year.
It’s for this reason that the Foundation has taken it upon itself to stand up and do something about this, through mentoring boys who will be better men to society.
As someone who was conceived out of the brutality that is rape, and a victim of physical, emotional and sexual abuse himself, founder, Sylvester Mashilo has first hand experience of the psychological trauma, behavioural and physical consequences that survivors go through.
As an organisation that exists to promote a society that is free of violence, the SylvesterMashilo Foundation has embarked on a mission to rediscover mens hearts by hosting a “Boys and Dad/Man in the Gap Camp,” under the theme “We Are Wild At Heart”.
The camp will take place in Magaliesburg from the 27th-28th of February 2021, where boys between the ages of 5 to 16 along with their fathers, uncles, and father figures, will be mentored into being boys who are accountable for their actions, model exemplary character, integrity and conduct, that will make women and girl children feel safe in their own homes, communities, workplaces and schools.
It’s through initiatives like these that we hope to build men that see and exercise their manhood in a positive way for society; a society where leaders of society exercise their power, rank and privilege for the common good.
To join this national community building project visitwww.sylvestermashilo.co.za today.
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