Masiphephe Network’s Brothers for Life Influences Change in Men and Boys
USAID is engaging men and boys to end GBV and “Yenza Kahle” (Do Good)
Not a day passes without gender-based violence (GBV) impacting women and children in South Africa. While there have been efforts from every sector of society to curb GBV, the scourge of violence, often deadly, has remained high in many communities across the country. In the recent 2022-23 crime statistics in South Africa, 1,277 women were victims of attempted murder and 989 women were murdered during this reporting period.
USAID is working to support South African women and curb this unacceptable violence through local projects that focus on engaging men to promote social behavioral change.
The USAID-funded Gender Based Violence (GBV) project, the Masiphephe Network, is an advocacy group that coordinates and collaborates with local stakeholders involved in the prevention, reducing, and responding to gender-based violence in South Africa. The Network, led by the Center for Community Impact (CCI), collaborates with over 100 community-based organizations, government, and social partners to design and implement interventions intended to change the status quo of GBV in the country, including engaging men to address the gender inequalities that prevent men and boys from living their healthiest lives.
Brothers for Life is one such group. This group has clubs in Alexandra, Emalahleni, EThekwini, Mbombela, and Soweto. Brothers for Life is a national men’s health and social movement that mobilizes South African men to take responsibility for their own health, oppose violence, and lead positive lives. The clubs are safe spaces for men to discuss issues that affect them and influence change in behavior that perpetuates violence against women and children.
Brothers for Life clubs’ monthly workshops provide opportunities for men to learn more about social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, GBV, economic strengthening initiatives, fatherhood, men’s health and HIV, communications, positive relationships, and more.
The movement is now over a decade old, and research findings have shown that the men who were exposed to and targeted in several mass media campaigns meant to end GBV have shown some behavioral change.
However, recent research studies indicate that men want someone to talk to personally, and not through media advertisements.
These men desperately want and need safe spaces where they can meet, engage, and learn from each other. This kind of interaction goes a long way in addressing harmful social and cultural norms that men harbor towards women.
Sipho Ntlangula, the male engagement advisor at CCI, believes that while many social partners have made strides in influencing behavioral change that often leads to unhealthy forms of masculinity among men and boys, the formation of the Brothers for Life clubs takes a necessary next step. Sipho explained that by creating safe spaces and the opportunity for interpersonal connection, these clubs mobilize men to do the right thing.
At the two Brothers for Life clubs launched in Emalahleni, members were excited to join the movement.
One member shared a story about how regular unfounded beatings by his uncle influenced the man he became.
“I was violated by my uncle, who used to beat me every day for no reason,” he explained. “I hated my uncle for a very long time, as I didn’t understand why I had to suffer such abuse. When I was a little older, I used physical force to discipline my brother and an ex-girlfriend. With the Brothers for Life workshops, I now feel a lot better and have been referred for counseling to Project Support Association Southern Africa (PSASA).”
The Brothers for Life members in Diepkloof praised the formation of the club and vowed to use the opportunity to share their daily challenges. Obakeng Mofokeng, who has volunteered to use every opportunity to reach out to other men, says: “The workshop has been an eye opener for me as I learned that many other men have common challenges as me.”
Currently Masiphephe clubs have a total of 164 men as members. Men and boys interested in joining the The Brothers for Life clubs are encouraged to reach out to coordinators through the network’s website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About the Author
Rodgers Baloyi is the Digital Communications Specialist with the Masiphephe Network.
