Qula Kwedini molds lives of young men
A Langa organisation aims to teach boys how to be better men in response to gender-based violence.
Called Qula Kwedini, they do this by creating spaces for dialogue and engaging the boys in healthy, outdoor activities.
“The aim is to create a sober space for young men around the issues of gender-based violence, gangsterism and alcohol. We are happy because we get to be invited by organisations and schools that speak sense to young men. We show and teach them the role of men in society. We intervene in the school fights too as you know there are gangs in that space. Slowly but surely we are seeing the results in some communities. We know it won't happen overnight,” said the organisation’s founder Sisa Nobanda.
Recently the organisation hosted a dialogue at Iqhayiya High School in Khayelitsha, where they discussed the cause of family violence and how to find solutions.
Mr Nobanda said that for young men to understand, they need to ask probing questions.
Outside of schools, the organisation also takes young boys out on hikes and camps.
“Many are not mature, and are irresponsible. Our job is to teach them. We also believe in outdoor education where we take them out on hikes and camping. But not only that, we have created car washes in some areas for them to have something to do so they are not involved in robberies and other social ills,” he said.
Iqhayiya principal School principal Ayanda Mbava commended the dialogue and said she was happy to have Qula “empower her children“.
Khayelitsha resident Makhaya Bandla is a fan of the organisation. He said he has been following their work and is impressed.
“There are no quick fix for this, but they are doing well. I have seen them in Langa, Gugulethu, Lower Crossroads and in all the so called no go areas doing this work. They are young young people who are not folding arms waiting for magic to happen. All they need is support from the communities and most children will change,” he said.
