‘Moulding emotional skills of young boys’
KZN MEC of Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza urged society to move away from teaching boys to be tough at all times and emphasised the importance of preparing them for their future roles as heads of families.
KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza recently emphasised the importance of moulding emotional skills and overall well-being in the development of boys, rather than solely focusing on teaching masculinity.
The MEC said some boys become aggressive and engage in bullying behaviour, often due to a loss of identity and societal influences.
Khoza was speaking during a Boys Assembly held at Umdoni Municipality recently.
The MEC emphasised the need to expand beyond solely imparting important knowledge to boys and instead focus on their ability to relate to others, including women.
She urged society to move away from teaching boys to be tough at all times and emphasised the importance of preparing them for their future roles as heads of families.
MEC Khoza said it is important to teach boys that no tasks should be exclusively assigned to girls, saying that there is a need to raise children equally, instilling values of respect and love within families.
“When the family foundation is weakened, boys often resort to bullying and become abusers in an attempt to gain recognition. We want to encourage boys to openly discuss issues that affect their development. There are a lot of benefits when you focus on education and avoid behaviours that could hinder your future potential. Taking responsibility for your lives is key to your future,” she said.
Khoza urged young men to abstain from engaging in sexual activities until they were mature before urging them to protect themselves from peer pressure, refrain from experimenting with harmful substances and avoid engaging in criminal activities that could have lifelong consequences.
Meanwhile, Siyethemba Mnyaka, a participant at the Boys Assembly expressed gratitude for being part of the programme.
He said it was important for the government and other stakeholders to share the knowledge with their communities to foster a safe environment for everyone.
Mnyaka said he intends to educate his schoolmates on dealing with bullying and becoming protectors of others.
He added that he appreciated how the camps have helped boost his confidence.
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