First Lady Sustjie Mbumba pledged her support to the future endeavours of the 4x4 Initiative Foundation.
She made this undertaking at the 3rd Boys Leadership Camp being held outside Okahandja.
November 25 marked the beginning of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence against vulnerable groups in society, which include men and boys as well as women and girls.
The 3rd Boys Leadership Camp coincides with and creates awareness of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
The Camp and Training 2024 programme hosts 60 boys between the ages of 12 and 20 years.
First Lady Madam Sustjie Mbumba commended the 4X4 Initiative Foundation for dedicating its time to nurturing these young boys.
"From the onset, I would like to commend the 4X4 Initiative Foundation, who took up this noble cause, dedicating their time and resources to planting a seed of hope and self-worth in these young men, who very often are left behind by society. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to once more express my personal gratitude to all the partners, associates, and sponsors who are supporting this initiative."
The transformative leadership camp organised by the School of Destiny Association (SODA), spearheaded by the 4X4 Initiative Foundation, aims to empower and equip young boys growing up in single-parent homes and young boys who are struggling with absent father figures.
"Parents are doing all they can, some of the parents say, but I did not raise my boy like that; what happened when he went to Windhoek? But the parents are supposed to bring that boy back in line. It is not a one-day activity; it is a lifelong commitment that we have as Namibia, as a society."
The mayor of Okahandja Town, Beatrice Kotungonda, highlighted the significance and recognition of the boy child in society.
"95% of crimes that are committed are committed by the boy child; it's very rare that you will find a girl involved in crime matters, and it is exactly what our pastor was saying; in most cases, it is because we do not have father figures in our lives that we end up wanting to find our own path."
Nationally and internationally recognised artist Jericho Gawanab shared his testimony of overcoming alcohol and drug abuse.
"We need one another, we need men, boy child, we need you to grow up, we need you to take accountability, you need to take responsibility, we need you to stand your ground as men because females cannot raise us alone or our kids alone."
The training course runs for a week, which is level one and the foundation of the programme, and level two is more on training.