Fatherhood Project

The fatherhood Project is part of a larger global campaign called Men Care. The Western Cape initiative is a joint venture between the Sonke Gender Trust and Families South Africa Western Cape.

The project aims to:

Bring about gender equitable parenting.
Highlight the importance of a father’s engagement with his child in terms of the child’s development and the father’s mental wellness.
Prepare men mentally and emotionally for the birth of the child.
Increase understanding between men and women, thereby reinforcing a gender equitable relationship within the couple.
Put the rights of the child at the centre.
Highlight the child’s right to connect with both the mother and father.
Inspire fathers to share time with the child.

The project consists of five sessions:

Session 1: The difference between a father and a man. In this session we look at different roles fathers play in their children’s lives.
Session 2: Understand children’s behavior
Session 3: Understanding children’s feeling and managing their own
Session 4: Building children’s self esteem
Session 5 : Communication skills

We aim to achieve these goals through creating a space (small facilitated groups) where men can engage each other and the facilitator around these key issues. Groups are held in venues that are easily accessible to their community.