Young boys at Okahandja took an oath against Gender-Based Violence and to be upstanding and responsible members of society.

The boys are being capacitated with social skills and mechanisms by the Blue Project - a branch of the Love in Network Namibia.

Gender-Based Violence remains a dreaded evil in society, and these young boys of the Okahandja community have taken a stance to reduce the statistics of GBV victims.

Okahandja Municipal Councillor Beatrice Kohangondo is tasked with youth affairs in the town and was the guest speaker.

Many a time she says, men, including boys also fall victim to Gender Based Violence, but due to stigma, many chose to hide, and find it difficult to speak out.

"If we can create a society where we can talk to each other, to have a common understanding, let us first love each other before we can hurt each other, we can start to change some of these things."

She says GBV is not only physical abuse, and comes in many forms, adding that some cultural practices on the African content also play a part in the rising statistics.

" The stats with GBV in Africa are high, we still have child marriages, a 11/12-year-old, as soon as you start menstruating you are married off to a husband of 40/50 years old, your body has not even developed to that extend."

Cornelius Oupa Shimbuli the facilitator of the workshop encouraged the boys to be cognizant of peer pressure.

He says sometimes the burden of an absent father may lead the boy child to engage in unfavorable activities.

The Blue Project will host a series of workshops, and will also aid the boy child in academic affairs and building confidence.