Supporting the Boy Child

Supporting positive masculinity and challenging harmful were the focus of the second annual international day of the boy child commemoration led by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and supported by the GIZ Violence Prevention for Peaceful and Inclusive Communities Programme (VPPIC).

The VPPIC programme has been working with the department to chart a way forward for the young boys of South Africa, through strengthening positive masculinities programming which will allow every boy to achieve their full potential and whose full humanity deserves to be seen, named and celebrated.

International Day of the Boy Child was this commemorated on 22 May under the theme of “Breaking the Silence: Boys, Positive Masculinity and Mental Health” and brought together learners, educators, social impact organisations, thought leaders and various role models to engage in critical conversations around boys’ wellbeing, identity, emotional resilience and the role they can play building a more equal and compassionate society.

The VPPIC Programme is committed to backing the work of the Department to support an adoption of positive masculinity approaches within the care giving environment. Statistically young men are the primary victims and perpetrators of violence globally, however, boys and young men have tremendous potential to shape safer, healthier communities, and by encouraging positive, flexible understandings of masculinity, where strength is linked to empathy, respect, and responsibility. This way, boys can grow into confident leaders and active allies who contribute positively to those around them. 
Boys and men are often socialised to suppress vulnerability, labelling emotional expression as weakness. This bottling up limits emotional development and can lead to higher risks of substance abuse, isolation, and unaddressed mental health challenges.

Over the coming months the VPPIC programme, in collaboration with the DBE, will support the implementation of a multi-layered positive masculinities initiative aimed at strengthening institutional and practitioner capacities to engage boys and young men in constructive, gender-transformative ways. Through participatory engagement approaches, practitioner support, and systems-strengthening efforts, the joint effort will promote safe and inclusive environments that enable reflection towards desired changes in attitudes, perceptions and behaviours.