Dialogue connects mothers and daughters
The dialogues were spearheaded by the Social Development Department’s director of gender and women Empowerment, Dr Bongi Owusu and Zomnotho Community Development.
Non-profit organisation, Zomnotho Community Development recently hosted a Mother and Daughter Inter-Generational Dialogue at the Margate Hotel.
The dialogue held in collaboration with the National Department of Social Development was aimed at creating a connection and initiating inter-generational dialogue to raise sensitive issues around sexual and reproductive health.
Zomontho Community Development NPO chairperson Nqobile Cele said the aim was to also empower mothers and daughters of their rights in various aspects of sexual and reproductive health.
She said the dialogues were spearheaded by the Social Development Department’s Director of Gender and Women Empowerment, Dr Bongi Owusu and Zomnotho Community Development.
“Stakeholders and organisations such as Procter and Gamble, Restory and Department of Higher Education and Training made presentations during the dialogue. In line with the World Aids Day commemorations, this programme tackled sexual and reproductive health discussions between parents which will culminate in an increase in condom and contraceptive use. However, parents are often uncomfortable talking about sex with their children or it is seen as inappropriate. In addition, parents find it difficult to openly talk about sex with their children as they lack the skills and factual information to facilitate the discussion. This is what the speakers at the dialogue discussed,” she said.
Cele added that the dialogue was triggered by the Minister of Social Development – Lindiwe Zulu who is a champion of the ‘She Decides’ programme which is a global political movement, driving change in the communities by breaking barriers and bringing people together.
She added that the movement emerged in January 2017 to support the rights of girls and women to decide freely and for themselves about their sexual lives.
“In the discussions during the dialogues, mothers and daughters also shared best practices of Mothers with Daughters to fight against social ills such as teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and femicide, sexual reproduction challenges, rape, women trafficking, family planning, mental illness and food security. Young daughters were also allowed to air their views and experiences on social ills,” said Cele.
According to the department officials, she added, this is a strategy for improving the upbringing of young women to conform to values of life which will improve ways of tackling social ills and challenges.
“The department will continue to drive these type of dialogues in future in Limpopo and the Free State and then it will be rolled-out to other provinces as well. This programme will also be a sustainable one which will have custodians or patrons which will ensure that the communication between mother and daughter and father and son is sustainable and continuous,” she said.
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