ACTIVATE! will be exploring the significance of including the boy child in conversations which ultimately seek to alter dysfunctional patterns of behaviour within societies. As we continue to empower girls, few efforts have been directed to addressing patriarchal beliefs ingrained in the boy child. This ultimately results in conflict with their significant other later in adulthood – the girl child is taught how to stand up for herself whilst the boy child is taught to view that as defiance. As such, the safety of women and children does not lie solely on programs and initiatives which seek to empower them, but in dismantling the beliefs within the boy child which pose as a threat to the their lives.
Because the future of activism is collaboration, ACTIVATE! aims to work hand-in-hand with Generation Equality Forum and #MenInBlackDoeks. Activities will mostly be in the form of a Twitter Spaces Series, however, we will also profile and/or write stories on the young women and men within the network who will be facilitating these Twitter Spaces. We hope to receive opinion pieces from the network about the nature of this campaign.
The themes to be covered throughout the month, overlapping into September are:
Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights for an Equal Future
Re-Imagining Girls’ Education for an Equal Future
Women’s Economic Justice
Gender Justice & Women’s Rights
Sexual Reproductive Health Rights
Closing & Way Forward
