South Africa is a nation that is keen to contribute when it comes to the serious issues troubling our communities such as gender-based violence and the impact of poverty on children. However, we don’t often know how to make a difference when it comes to the causes we care about. Non-profit organisation, The Character Company (TCC), which runs a vital mentorship programme for boys growing up without their fathers, is making it easy, and fun, for South Africans across the country to participate in its 2022 FUNdraiser event over the weekend of 22 and 23 October 2022.
TCC is calling on family and friends, neighbours and colleagues to form teams and run, walk, swim or cycle for 100 kilometres to raise funds for 100 new boys to join their programme. The organisation has over 250 boys currently enrolled, and a waiting list of hundreds more. Founder and Director of TCC, Jaco van Schalkwyk says, “When you consider that 70% of South African children are growing up in single-parent homes, and 4 out of 5 boys do not have a consistent, positive male role model in their lives, we have to accept that broken masculinity is rife in our country. This is linked to high rates of gender-based violence, crime and corruption, gangsterism, substance abuse, mental disorders and suicide.”
Globally, mentorship programmes are a well-proven intervention to help children and youth overcome the disadvantages in their childhood, to break the mould they find themselves in and to develop as productive, contributing citizens. TCC offers uniquely long-term mentorship for its beneficiaries who all come from difficult and troubled backgrounds. The programme is based on the character-building values of honesty, courage, kindness, respect and self-discipline. Boys enter the programme at an exceptionally young age, between 5 and 10 years of age, when having a positive male role model has a striking impact.
TCC currently has 52 mentors across the country who meet with the boys in their care once a week and engage them in fun, bonding and learning activities. Van Schalkwyk says, “Our aim is to get the boys outdoors as much as possible, completely away from screens. There’s no gaming or TV! Instead, they’re out in the fresh air, on camps, a hike or a night-walk, visiting the beach or swimming in the river. These are great opportunities to give the boys a taste of healthy living by enjoying physical activities, having quiet time to reflect in nature and experiencing being a valued part of a supportive team.”
In line with this embrace of healthy lifestyles, South Africans from all walks of life are invited to join in TCC’s 2022 FUNdraiser by finding sponsors for their teams and getting outside on Saturday, 22 October or Sunday, 23 October to clock up 100 kilometres as a collaborative effort. TCC is aiming to raise R500 000 which will enable them to enrol 100 additional boys over one year. The programme also reaches out to support the boys’ mothers or caregivers, as well as connecting with their teachers.
“Our 2022 FUNdraiser is the perfect healthy event for a summer weekend in South Africa, and our mentors and boys will be out in sunshine joining the fun,” says van Schalkwyk. “While we recommend running, walking, swimming or cycling, you can actually choose any outdoor activity that suits your team such as hiking in the mountains or sea-kayaking. It gives you the chance to turn your normal weekend exercise into a fun, community-based effort that at the same time is doing something exceptional to make a difference to vulnerable boys who deserve the chance to grow up into good, healthy men, partners and fathers.”
