Men come together to celebrate Father’s Day
Joe Mashilo
While South Africa celebrated and observed father’s day on the 19th of June. Three different men’s establishment in a form of societies in Jouberton came together in their uniforms at in the Mix tavern, Ext 24.
As we thrive and usher in a new culture of community activism and continuing to utilise taverns as critical site’s for change, members of Bambanani men’s forum celebrated father’s day laying a helping hand and by donating food parcels to the needy in Ext 22, 17 and 24.
The forum together with stakeholders will also on this coming Sunday, embark on a basket of services project, this will include helping the needy with much needed information.
On father’s day at in the Mix tavern, we celebrated the progress and positive role modelling of father’s as a result of our behavioural change program tailored for men in taverns. Our weekly community dialogues has made significant strides thus far.
Amongst the speakers invited in our short and precise father’s day programme there was Phakama Ndoda foundation, the organisation is advocating for men who are also in many instances are the victims of gender based violence.
As Bambanani men’s forum, we are aware through our dialogues that men stay for months without buying themselves clothing all because they prioritise putting food on the table, some stay hungry just for the kids and families to can eat and survive. Some men have been embarassed, disgraced and abused because they can’t afford to get a decent job, and when bringing peanuts they are bullied by partner’s.
We are aware of these daily challenges and many others, on father’s day, men came together a to reflect on some of the challenges, at the same time having fun and more importantly to socialize. Bambanani members then distributed food hampers to needy families in Extensions 17, 22 and 24 and they donated a wheel chair to one elderly lady who struggled to move around her house and the community. Mr Thabo Pelesane of TP foundation, who is also a close associate of Bambanani men’s forum kept everyone entertained by his well known soulful music.
