If South Africa is to eliminate the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), greater efforts would have to be made to understand its root cause.
This is the view of Dr Charley Pietersen, the director of the Growing Up Without A Father Foundation in Johannesburg. He said he started the foundation in 2016, after studying and observing the behaviour of fatherless boys.
“Every year we host men’s conferences aimed at empowering men, however, the foundation is changing and focusing on the topic of GBVF. Previously the foundation encouraged men to speak about prostate cancer, stress and mental health issues”.
The Growing Up Without A Father Foundation aims to hold its 2024 men’s conference in December and GBVF will be an important topic. Men and women are scheduled to attend the event.
“GBVF does not have a skirt or pants, it does not only affect women. As a country, we don’t put proper systems in place to fight this.”
He said he hopes the December dialogue would emerge with a document that would be a game-changer in the minds of all genders.
Some of the speakers for the event include South African soccer star Bernard Parker, former South African Football Association Chief Executive Officer, Leslie Sedibe, Nono Lekhanya, Herman Bezuidenhout, actor Jerry Mofokeng Wa Makhetha, Legends Barber Shop Chief Executive Officer, Sheldon Tatchell and Acting Head of Department for the Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) Bongani Ngomane.
“We want to hear from all angles how we can stop this scourge of GBVF,” he said.
The foundation’s vision and objective are to assist fatherless children and foster unity among men across all races by creating an awareness around the impact of fatherlessness on families, communities, businesses, and the entire nation.
The work of the foundation is focussed on outreach programmes at schools, orphanages, communities and correctional centres.
The Growing Up Without A Father Foundation also has a woman empowerment division known as the Pure Rose Movement. This division was established by Brenda Pietersen.
The Pure Rose Movement aims to uplift women and young girls whilst creating an environment of launching women entrepreneurs. ¥
For more information about Growing Up Without A Father Foundation visit www.growingupwithoutafather.org.za or email info@growingupwithoutafather.org.za
The dialogue will be held at The Venue in Midrand on 14 December 2024.
To book a ticket, contact Charley Pietersen on 0833887977 or email pietersenc@gmail.com for more information
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