YOUNG boys from Hanover Park are getting another chance at life with an initiative called The First 100.
According to founders The Community Foundation, the programme focuses on 100 boys who are orphaned, in conflict with the law, school drop outs, gender-based violence (GBV) or experience major trauma.
The Community Foundation was established to formalise programme and initiatives in Hanover Park and surrounding areas, with a focus on driving community-led change, particularly among the youth between the ages of 8 to 20 years old.
Co-founder and Head of Operations Zainab Karriem said that The First 100, is a two-year programme that supports 100 boys and their parents or guardians through partnerships with the Hanover Park Day Hospital, Department of Correctional Services, the local library, the South African Police Service and other community stakeholders.
Zainab explained: “The programme is designed to equip these young men with the tools to make informed decisions, while also promoting emotional balance and physical well-being.
"Our broader aim is to reduce gender-based violence, disrupt gang recruitment, and create a lasting, positive impact in the community.
On Saturday the first 20 boys had their induction into the initiative, along with the various stakeholders, parents or guardians for engagement and updates on the programme.
Zainub added: “We are trying to change the homes holistically by involving the parents as part of the process. We have been involved with many programmes in the community.
"Through our engagements, we realised that in order to create systemic change we need to put the focus on the children.
"The key objective is to integrate them back into the education system and assist with further careers and partnering with local businesses for work opportunities.”
Yaseen Johaar from The Community Foundation said they want to equip the boys so that they can become better men who will not contribute to the growing rate of crime.
Yaseen shared: “The reason why our focus is on the males was because of statistics showing that men are dying due to unnatural courses at a rate four times more than females, which is because of the gang violence and violence in general happening in our community.
"Looking at gender-based violence, a lot of effort is put on females but the majority of perpetrators are men.
"So we want to raise a generation where toxic masculinity does not exist. We want them to advocate against GBV.
"With gangsterism being so rife, millions are being invested into more boots on the ground, technology and other things because we are not seeing the situation with gangsterism in the community improve.
"So we believe that it is because of these underlying issues which is the root cause."