By: Lerato Tshweu

To foster change and mend bridges, male members of the Student Counselling and Development (SCD) Peer Helper Programme at the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Mahikeng Campus recently organised an event to promote a more empathetic and supportive environment for women.

The event, aptly named "Transforming MENtalities" took place on 29 August and marked a significant step towards acknowledging the challenges faced by female students.

The initiative was a continuation of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign initiated by the SCD at the beginning of the year. It was a powerful demonstration of young men taking responsibility for their actions and their role in addressing various issues. These issues include unwanted pregnancies, pregnancy terminations without partner support, GBV (including catcalling, harassment, and inappropriate touching), and reproductive health-related concerns where male support was lacking.

The male members of the Peer Helper Programme hosted a lunch for female students on campus as a platform for open dialogue. During the event, the young men expressed their remorse and offered heartfelt apologies.

"We are here to tell you that we love you. It is our way of saying we are sorry for everything that women go through because of us men. We ask for forgiveness and want you to know that we appreciate you."

The event also featured a Q & A session with the clinic manager, where students had the opportunity to voice their concerns about clinic management. Female students actively participated in the discussions held by the hosts, reinforcing the message that they are not alone in their struggle and that there are people who genuinely care.

"Transforming MENtalities" encouraged open communication and promoted the idea that positive change can only occur through acknowledgment and action. It served as a testament to the potential for transformation within society, one campus at a time. The sincere apologies extended by the male Peer Helper members and their commitment to change offer hope for a more supportive and empathetic campus community.

These male members of the SCD Peer Helper Programme celebrated women on the NWU’s Mahikeng Campus.