11 May 2021
With a focus on developing boys into men with good values, vision and purpose, Brown’s PR company again hosted a successful #MentortheBoys workshop.
The annual event is hosted by Brown’s PR owner Michelle Brown, who initiated the programme four years ago with the aim of providing about 100 grade 11 boys from schools around the Bay with a day of life lessons and advice from a host of guest speakers.
After having to cancel the 2020 workshop due to Covid-19, 11 schools were invited to attend the event at the Hellenic Hall on Tuesday.
They were Andrew Rabie, Bertram, Booysen Park, Chatty, Cillié, Douglas Mbopa, Ethemebeni, Linkside, Otto du Plessis, Westering and Woolhope high schools.
“We previously had a workshop for grade 12 girls for 10 years and I said why were we not looking at the boys,” Brown said.
She said the workshop looked at various aspects of growing up from a teenage boy into a man, include safety, a topic covered by guest speaker Bernadette Nel-Naude from Atlas security.
“Programmes of this nature are incredibly important for the development of boys,” Brown said. .
“It has to be done more than once a year, more companies need to step up and do this kind of workshop.
“We have received positive feedback from the teachers and on our feedback forms the boys said they were able to form a brotherhood where they helped each other.”
She thanked all her sponsors. .
Another guest speaker, MBDA spokesperson Luvuyo Bangazi said it was important for boys to take care of their health, work towards having a purpose and to know the importance of family.
“There is a lot of talk about girls and so little that goes to boys, who become men, who could become abusers.
“Coming from a background of sport, there is a lot of testosterone in the boys and that energy can be channelled into a sporty lifestyle, positive mindset and them focusing on their purposes,” Bangazi said.
Ajay Petrus, 18, from Booysen Park High, said he was encouraged by the programme and was motivated by Bangazi’s story and his journey of how he got to be where he is today.
Julian Crouse, 17, Linkside High school said: “I learnt its never too late to change your career choices.”
