What is the Fathers Matter project?

Fathers Matter is an initiative to support the positive and active role of fathers and men in the lives of children, in order to lessen the risks linked to the absence of fathers or positive male role models.

Fathers Matter is a project by Heartlines, the Centre for Values Promotion, a social change NPO that promotes positive behaviour change using stories and values-based resources.

Why fathers are important

Research shows us that children who grow up without the active positive presence of one or more men in their lives (not necessarily their biological fathers) puts them at high risk of mental illness, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, poor educational and economic outcomes, and becoming victims or perpetrators of violence, including gender-based violence. In South Africa, an overwhelming majority of children have absent fathers.

Although these risks are not a guarantee that a child won’t grow up to be healthy, successful and capable, and many children of single mothers do flourish, the benefits children get from having a positive, active father or father figure are huge.

But fathers need support

Many fathers and father figures need support to be positively present and engaged. It can be difficult to know what to do, how to be a role model, or how to build into their child’s mental, physical, social, spiritual and emotional development. Men need to be able to talk, share and be supported in the roles that they play.

The Fathers Matter Connect Groups have been created to help do just that.

Connect Group Facilitator's Toolkit

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