Heartlines is a not-for-profit company that develops values-based interventions supporting social and behavioural change. They also believe in the power of story, and we have always admired their work. So we are delighted to be partnering with them to run a writing competition as part of their Fathers Matter Campaign.
The campaign is based on their research into fatherhood where they explored attitudes, beliefs and practices around fathering, the impact of father absence and presence, and the barriers to father involvement in children’s lives.
A key finding from their research was that, although many South Africans identified a man’s ability to provide for his family as the critical entry point to fatherhood, they also expressed yearnings for greater connection and care from their fathers that went beyond mere financial support.
In addition, Heartlines describes how fathers often struggle with the balance of adhering to masculinity norms, while being emotionally available and nurturing towards their children. As one research participant described: “When you start playing with your kids, culture will say, ‘This one is not man enough, he’s busy with children’ and at that time you’re trying to be around your kids… culture has a way of suppressing you by making you feel inferior as a man in the community.”
As part of their campaign, they want to engage young people with the issue of fatherhood, and so we are working with them to run an essay competition called ‘My Father’. Participants are invited to write an essay about some aspect of fatherhood – what it’s like being a father, or growing up without a father, or a description of a wonderful father… The topic is open, and we are encouraging personal stories and descriptions rather than abstract reflections.
As described in another blog here, we have an exciting partnership with Arena Holdings where we are promoting the competition in national media, and we already have over 700 entries! We have started marking these, and there are many moving and poignant pieces – and we have also read about many marvellous fathers all over the country!
The competition closes at the end of the month, and the top essays will be published on FunDza’s popular fundza.mobi platform, as well as on the Heartlines’ Fathers Matter website). Winning entries will also be re-published by The Sowetan.