Men In Deed NPO aims to bring empowerment

Men In Deed NPO, based in Alveda Park, was established on April 17, 2021.

The organisation aims to address societal imbalances which focus predominantly on the growth of young girls and not boys who are supposed to step into their role as a ‘man’.

Men in Deed NPO does various activities that engage the boys and expose them to different platforms and influential individuals.

What inspired the start of the organisation?

Inspired by a statement by Mahatma Gandhi, “The true measure of a society is based on how it treats its most vulnerable,” the organisation was established to fight gender-based violence (GBV) and to teach boys and young men that they can do better than what society labels men to be.

Founder and chairperson, Theophellous Chabalala expressed, “Our mission is to create change in the community by impacting on the life of a boy child and young men through sports, mentors, educational activities and many more mental and physical strengthening programmes.”

Among those working to bring the mission to fruition are treasurer Ditaba Mokoena and secretary Ashaanti Jantjies.

“The idea of the organisation came about when we realised the number of detainees in prison as being male inmates and the number of women and children being abused and killed by our fellow brothers in the name of ‘love’,” said Chabalala.

He added, “Clearly, men were never taught about love and how to love properly. We are motivated by the African proverb Sehlare se kobiwa se sale meetse, ya omelela ya robega, which means bend a tree while it is still young because when it has grown, it will not bend but break.

“This motivated the group to form an organisation to intervene in helping the boy child be shaped and groomed to know his place and responsibilities in his home and the community, resulting in a better society as charity begins at home.”

First charity event

On April 6, Men In Deed hosted its first charity event, the Family Fun Day of Indigenous Games.

The event was implemented to introduce the organisation to the community through indigenous sporting activities that included all family members.

The organisation has adopted a local school and 150 vulnerable scholars to be beneficiaries of donations and other benefits implemented by them.

“We would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to the stakeholders who assisted in making the day a success and ensuring our safety. The day was planned on no budget yet everything we desired for the day was there because of many helping hands,” said Chabalala.

Deed for the need programme

Men In Deed is running a programme called ‘Deed for the Need’ to benefit the scholars.

Chabalala added it takes a village to raise a child. To assist in the upbringing of the vulnerable at a young age, any form of donations and sponsorships will be highly appreciated.

For more information, contact him on 067 119 8396 or email midnpo@gmail.com.

Follow Men In Deed on social media to see the work they are doing in their community on Facebook: Men In Deed 26-135 NPO or Instagram @MenInDeed260-135 NPO