Men In Black Doeks

25/06/2025

Empowering Parolees and Building Communities, A Collaborative Approach to Reintegration.

Mordecai Ndlovu Foundation

24/06/2025

Yaaas, brothers! Let's talk about something that's been on our minds for far too long. We're living in a crisis, and it's time we address it head-on. Over 444,000 people have taken their own lives in the first half of 2025, and most of them were men. That's right, fellas - men just like us.

We're tired of seeing our brothers, fathers, and sons suffer in silence. We're tired of the stigma surrounding mental health. It's time we break the silence and start talking.

As men, we've been taught to be strong, to man up, and to push through. But let's be real - that's not working. It's time we create spaces for vulnerability, for real talk, and for support.

So, let's make a pact to check in on each other, to listen without judgment, and to offer support when needed. Let's rewrite the narrative and tell a different story for our sons.

We're in this together, brothers. Let's break the silence and prioritize our mental health.

24/04/2025

The campaign, founded by Sizolwenkosi Mordecai Ndlovu in 2015, uses the traditional South African doek (headwrap) as a powerful symbol with a dual meaning. Typically associated with women's attire, the doek takes on a new significance when worn by men in this context - standing in solidarity with women against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

By donning black doeks, men demonstrate their sensitivity, compassion, and support for women who have been victims of violence and abuse. The campaign's core objective is to encourage men to engage in conversations about masculinity, GBVF, and their role in preventing violence against women.

The campaign has sparked crucial dialogues amongst men in South Africa and globally, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and promoting a more empathetic and supportive male identity. Through this initiative, Mordecai Ndlovu aims to create a cultural shift, encouraging men to become allies in the fight against GBVF and to take an active role in promoting gender equality.

The campaign's impact extends beyond social media, as it facilitates real-life conversations and reflections among men about their attitudes and behaviors towards women. By wearing the black doek, men are making a visible statement of their commitment to supporting women and promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and understanding.

Overall, has become a significant movement in South Africa, inspiring men to rethink their roles and responsibilities in preventing GBVF and promoting gender equality. The campaign's message of solidarity, compassion, and support resonates globally, highlighting the importance of engaging men in the fight against violence and discrimination.

Action Aid South Africa
Sonke Gender Justice
Mordecai Ndlovu Foundation

24/04/2025

THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERHOOD

A significant number of fathers fail to recognize the imperative of being present in their children's lives. The paternal role begins at the child's birth, and from the very beginning, fathers must be comprehensively involved in every facet of their children's lives. Indeed, the father-child bond should ideally be established long before the child's birth, before their appearance is known, before their first cry is heard, and before physical contact is possible; this bond should form while the child is still in the womb.

Fatherhood signifies a profound spiritual resonance with the divine within every man. Fatherhood represents a sacred spiritual responsibility from which life is perpetuated. To augment this continuum, fathers function as progenitors of their Ancestors.

The impact of father-child bonding has been researched for decades. The findings show overwhelmingly that children benefit from bonding with their fathers. The bonding improves a child’s outcomes in the areas of mental health, emotional regulation, self-esteem, behavior modification, and more.

Some of the more compelling statistics on father-child bonding show that children who feel close to their father, compared with those who don’t, are:

• Twice as likely to attend college or secure stable employment after high school.

• 75 percent less likely to become teenage parents.

• 80 percent less likely to be incarcerated.

• 50 percent less likely to suffer from multiple depression symptoms.

24/04/2025

CALLING ALL STORYTELLERS! Share your experiences, struggles, and triumphs with us! We want to hear from YOU! Send your stories to [email protected] or share them. Let's build a community of support and connection.

23/04/2025

If you are looking for resources on how to budget, save, spend and borrow wisely visit our Money Values Website. Remember that “if you don’t tell your money where to go… It’ll leave without saying goodbye.”

LINK: www.valuesandmoney.org.za

23/04/2025

Women's advocacy group Women For Change has added their voice to the calls for the discontinuation of channel Moja Love reality show “Isencane Lengane”.

Read on https://tinyurl.com/u6nru8pv

22/04/2025

Get ready, steady Go!

Action Aid South Africa
Sonke Gender Justice
Activate Change Drivers
Mordecai Ndlovu Foundation
Heartlines

11/04/2025

11/04/2025

Why do children get their mother’s surname when boys are the ones getting them pregnant?

In South Africa, many children are registered under their mother’s surname — not because the government is biased, but because many young men aren't taking responsibility.

It’s a reflection of a deeper crisis:

Absent fathers

Broken family structures

Young boys not being taught accountability

Systems that protect mothers but don’t enforce fatherhood

This isn’t just a South African issue. Even in countries like the U.S., if a man doesn't acknowledge his child, the child often carries the mother’s name.

We don’t just have a teenage pregnancy problem. We have a fatherhood crisis.

It’s time we talk about it.

NB: Let’s fight teenage pregnancy and the fatherhood crisis together.