10 June 2013
Today Sonke Gender Justice Network
held a conference with delegates from across the world.
The aim of the conference is for
groups to come up with strategic plans on how to change the role that fathers
play in the lives of their children. Media Liaison officer at Sonke Gender
Justice Network Patrick Godana said the conference will run over three days and
there will be numerous workshops on how to tackle the barriers, change the structures
in families and get fathers to be present in their children’s lives,
irrespective of the whether the parents live together.
Godana explains that as Sonke they
are excited about this campaign as this is the first of its kind, however he
adds that a time is yet to be afforded by various delegates who are coming from
many other parts of the world, to share that issues of men and care are
possible.
“For as long as there is a willing
heart, but also it will be a cherry on top when our ministers from the national
and provincial structures will be joining us, to hear and listen from the
horses mouth,” added Godana.
Furthermore he explains that when
these men talk and explain from their point of view who has engaged in these
father groups as to what are the benefits of walking the walk and being a part
of your partner and your child’s life.
Training
and employee wellness manager Anthony Hawthorn at FAMSA Western Cape a
non-profit organization specializing in relationship counseling said that there
are many challenges that they face as in terms of rolling-out expectant father
groups.
Hawthorn
said that to this day their biggest challenge is been managing the
bureaucracies.
“I think
at a state level or at a provincial level there isn’t the appreciation of how
important this work really is we have had ongoing struggles trying to get into
public hospitals,” added Hawthorn.
He also
explains it is interesting that when they are through the door the challenge is
no longer with the men, the men are very open to these changes and they often
embrace these kinds of change.
He
emphasizes that there is a need for it but the red tape often seems to be the
hindrance in the matter in trying to get through the bureaucratic red tape to
provide these kinds of facilities for men to engage with each other.
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