As the annual 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children kicks off, Heartlines Fathers Matter is urging South Africans to move beyond conversations and take meaningful, daily action against gender-based violence. Through its #WhatCanIDo digital campaign, the programme hopes to inspire ordinary citizens to make a deliberate effort toward creating safer homes and communities. For too long, South Africa has had dialogues that do not lead to long-term change. To truly eradicate violence against women and children, action is required—day by day, quietly or loudly, wherever people find themselves.
During the 16-day period, the Fathers Matter team will release one action per day that individuals or groups can take as their personal move against GBV. The campaign answers the common question many ask when hearing about another case of child abuse or a woman killed by a partner: What can I do? It offers 16 practical responses as a starting point, with a focus on fathers and men showing up as a positive, caring presence in children’s lives.
The suggestions range from community-focused initiatives, such as supporting fathers to be positive partners in preventing GBV, to personal commitments like joining online communities that reject rape culture and promote healthy masculinity. Other responses focus on parents and caregivers, including teaching children about consent and boundaries, and helping boys express emotions in healthy ways. Heartlines encourages the public to add their own #WhatCanIDo actions, recognising that the lived realities of families and neighbourhoods differ across the country. The daily responses will be shared on the Fathers Matter Facebook page with contributions from partner organisations working in GBV prevention.
Stopping GBV requires more than reactive interventions; it also requires prevention that begins early in a child’s life. Heartlines, the NPO behind Fathers Matter, promotes the positive and active presence of men in children’s lives. Research shows that GBV is often rooted in childhood experiences, particularly the absence of loving and present father figures. When a father or father figure shows up in a caring, healthy way, children grow up feeling more secure and are less likely to use aggression or violence. Addressing fatherlessness is therefore addressing one of the root causes of systemic violence.
The issue is also linked to how boys and men are socialised. Many young people grow up without fathers in the home, without positive male role models, and often develop harmful expressions of masculinity. Part of the Fathers Matter programme is helping men redefine healthy masculinity. One of the #WhatCanIDo actions focuses on men coaching men, where peer groups hold one another accountable, challenge harmful norms, and promote care for families and themselves.
For men who lack positive support networks, Heartlines offers the Fathers Matter Coach, a free WhatsApp-based, AI-driven platform that provides real-time guidance on fatherhood, mental health, anger management, and substance-use challenges.
Heartlines believes that meaningful social change begins with individual action. Every small step taken to address fatherlessness in South Africa is a meaningful step toward ending the GBV crisis. But it starts with answering the question: What can I do?