Sustainability
Stand against gender-based violence
Integrity and equality underpin Seriti’s mission as a business. Over the years, the Company has championed various collaborative initiatives that turn the spotlight on the seriousness of gender-based violence (GBV).
Integrity and equality underpin Seriti’s mission as a business. Over the years, the Company has championed various collaborative initiatives that turn the spotlight on the seriousness of gender-based violence (GBV).
What about the boys? is a unique programme to tackle GBV at grassroots level, developed in partnership with youth development NGO, Primestars.
This programme aims to teach young boys, from an early age about accountability, redefine masculinity and change the narrative among boys. Through this programme we aim to build a future free of GBV by helping victims and preventing those who may in the future become perpetrators.
The programme was first rolled out across high schools in 2022 and reached 15 000 high school boys across the country helping to ensure that they abandon the traditional masculinity stereotypes that contribute to GBVF.
The initial programme included a film, an educational booklet, online resources and hands-on mentorship to help teach young boys the importance of empathy and dignity in all relationships.
An assessment of the 2022 programme showed a positive impact from the participating schools with a shift in the attitudes and behaviour around bullying, violence and sexual harassment.
The 2023 phase of the programme included significant enhancements including encouraging the young boys to become advocates against GBVF by setting up GBVF councils in their schools as well as the inclusion of additional schools to help spread the message even further.
At the launch of the 2023 programme, Seriti Chief Corporate and Community Relations Officer Thabo Masike said “We, as a business, want to build a relationship based on trust and honesty with these young boys and help them navigate their way to adulthood with tools and assets that will help them make better life decisions,”
For further information, please see:
“As a business, it is imperative to involve ourselves in a programme that is aimed at contributing to building a future free of GBV by helping victims and those who may in the future become perpetrators. I am really excited about the work that this programme aims to achieve, and the interventions planned to start teaching young boys from an early age about accountability. I believe this is much needed to move the needle against GBV.”
- Mike Teke, Seriti Resources, Chief Executive Officer
National boy-focused GBV intervention launches
A ground-breaking national preventative Gender Based Violence (GBV) intervention that focuses on boys was launched in Johannesburg today, attended by high-profile industry stakeholders and CEOs who have given their support to the programme.
The programme – titled What about the Boys? – aims to tackle gender-based violence by working with 10 000 high school boys across the country. Created by youth-development programme facilitator Primestars, the programme is designed to guide boys to break free from the rigid and often damaging stereotypes of traditional masculinity that contribute to GBV.