Shaping underprivileged boys into men

NON-PROFIT organisation Ncema will host their third annual Men and Boy Behavioural Change Programme, to be held at Skinner Camp in Cedara on August 10 and 11.

The programme is aimed at giving boys an opportunity to engage with fathers about their behaviour as they grow up. It also aims to help children to be able to separate right from wrong.

The organisation was formed four years ago and it has since attracted over 120 boys, who will be the part of this year’s camp.

Ncema chairperson Thenjiwe Ngcobo toldEcho that the organisation wants to use this programme to reduce the number of gender-based violence and sexual offence cases that are committed by children. She said sometimes children end up being arrested because they did something, not even knowing that it is a crime or it is wrong.

“This programme will give boys an opportunity to discuss the problems that they are encountering as they grow up. It will help in shaping their social behaviour, not to convert into crime,” she said.

“We know that there are boys that do not have father figures at home to look up to and be groomed by. We are giving them this opportunity to talk about their problems and to be taught ways to behave as boys that are still growing up.

“We are not only looking at the boys that are a problem, or those who are having problems, but we also take those boys in the community that have the potential to learn and come back and influence others positively.”

Ngcobo said the programme works closely with community leaders to select the children that they feel need to be part of the programme.

She also revealed that this year they are also accommodating children from youth centres and children’s homes from uMgungundlovu and nearby areas.

“We are hoping that, as we continue, the numbers of children that participate will grow and we will also be able to get funding.

“We want to help the community but we want them [the community] to know about us first,” Ngcobo said.

To learn more about Ncema and their programmes, contact 076 765 5567 or e-mail ncemainfo@webmail.co.za