What could a fun day for men and their children have to do with addressing the scourge of
gender-based violence in our country? Quite a lot, actually.“To prevent violence and improve gender equality, men must become more involved in household care work,” said Wessel van der Berg, MenCare Officer at Equimundo, in an article he authored while working at Sonke Gender Justice.
Although normalising fathers as caregivers may be a bit of a process in some cases, events such as the
upcoming Dads Connect Fun Day, organised by social change NPO Heartlines, provide the perfect
opportunity to connect dads who invest their time in their children with other like-minded dads and father
figures. Heartlines is running the event as part of its Fathers Matter initiative, which seeks to promote the
active, positive presence of men in children’s lives.
While there are already role models reinforcing this message, our nation desperately needs to see the
return of a healthy masculine identity – one that seeks to protect the interests of a man’s own children, and
other children within his extended community.
“It’s about creating a community where we get together and spend time with our kids, and also empower
and support fathers to enjoy fatherhood. Fathers Matter is such an important movement,” says event
co-host, actor Sisanda Henna, explaining his support for the event.
“We’re at that time of year where 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is at the forefront of
our national dialogue. And yet, each year we continue to see rising levels of GBV and the abuse of children,
despite compelling advertising campaigns and PSAs speaking out against it,” says Heartlines CEO Dr
Garth Japhet. “We believe that one of the strongest lines of defence against GBV is for fathers – and men
in general – to be invested in a positive, caring way in children’s lives.”
Event details
Join Fathers Matter Champions and actor and producer Sisanda Henna on Saturday 26 November from
09:00 to 12:30 for a fun-filled morning of creating memories with your child, and meeting other like-minded
dads at AJ’s in the Park in Craighall, Johannesburg. There will be a variety of age-appropriate activities for
children of all ages, including soccer, jumping castles, arts and crafts, and water activities.
Not only will you have the opportunity to have fun with your children and build connections with other dads,
you’ll also be part of a movement of men who are choosing to show a different reality. One where men are
reshaping the narrative of fatherhood for the better.
