Where are the good guys? To turn the tide on gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa it is key that men and women work together.

In South Africa’s National Strategic Plan on GBVF signed into force by the President in May 2020, one of the six pillars focuses on prevention and the need to shift from toxic masculinity and all that enables and upholds it. To discredit and discard toxic masculinities means that we need to have alternatives to consider and test out.

There is wide acknowledgement that men and boys need to play a leading role in initiatives for change to eliminate GBV and hold each other accountable. There is a clarion call to address ‘toxic masculinity’ in many African countries, with the South African government and civil society amplifying this. Asante Gender Action is stepping up to answer this call for a transformative and transforming masculinity.

Asante recently held a #GoodGuy day camp for learners in four schools in Grade 10 at the beginning of October in Gqberha (Port Elizabeth). This cohort follows Asante’s pilot training that was held in 2021. We spent time exploring identity, gender and GBV and how boys and girls can collaborate and work together towards prevention of GBV.

Learners described the experience as life-changing as they had the opportunity to share in girls-only and boys-only groups and then engage each other on feelings, challenges, perspectives, beliefs and actions. A highlight was going into different communities in the area and doing a street survey on GBV, and it was noted that in the areas where GBV is most prevalent, that community members had a fatalistic view on turning the tide on GBV.

The learners will run campaigns in their schools and engage in small peer-group sessions where they will share what they learnt with their peers.