South Africa’s 2022 crime statistics reveala 58,4% change in violent assault crimes against children (0-17 years). If not dealt with early, this and other deeply-rooted trauma often manifests into anger and self-esteem issues, toxic masculinity and other unmanaged behavioural challenges among teenagers.

Realising this growing concern and the need to manage this crisis through a preventative approach, Rays of Hope started an anger management programme in the Alexandra community called Majita Asiringeni (Boys, Let’s Talk).

The pilot programme, funded by The Solidarity Fund in response to the July 2021 riots, started with the boys who regularly attend the Teenage Boys Support Group and expanded into several schools to offer an initial eight-week programme to 60 young boys struggling to manage their anger and emotional trauma.

“We realised there’s so much unresolved bitterness and aggression among the youth, especially among the teenage boys in the schools. These children don’t have an outlet for their pent-up emotions, so they drink, smoke, and resort to violence,” says Bertha Muchadeyi, Programme Manager at Rays of Hope. “So, we took the initiative and focused on designing a preventative programme that will allow us to walk this journey of healing with them, and not just focus on solving the issue in the short term but provide a lifelong solution that changes the behaviours of an entire generation.”

Majita Asiringeni is trying to raise a violence-free generation by working with boys from a young age. The programme says this approach is more effective than starting the healing process when they’re older because their trauma becomes more challenging to manage, and interventions don't often work.

The programme uses a manual recommended to the team by the Chicago School of Professional Psychology comprising workbooks that focus on teen conflict management, communication skills, aggression and bullying, teen resilience, and self-esteem. The manuals have already helped teenagers in the programme acknowledge that they need help and that there's a root cause for their behaviour.

In addition to using the manuals, Majita Asiringeni also provides teenagers with an indoor and outdoor gym facility that they can use as an outlet for their anger. This is especially beneficial for young men who struggle to verbalise their emotions, providing an alternative way to release their aggression.

The programme has been incredibly successful and has already identified young “Peace Ambassadors” – young men who have progressed and developed in the programme. The initiative trains these young men to become representatives of peace in their respective schools and communities who, when witnessing violence, can talk to their peers about healthier ways of resolving conflict and dealing with their anger.

Majita Asiringeni’s holistic approach has driven the programme to look at offering parental support groups and workshops that will accommodate teenagers and their families over weekends. The sessions will help parents reflect on how their parenting styles and home environments impact their children and how their behaviour, drinking habits, or violent behaviour within their homes affects them.

“I realised there was a problem when I started to not feel like myself. It got to the point where I was scared I might become suicidal, and I decided to get help to become healthier,” says Smangaliso Kubeka, a 17-year-old teenager from Alexandra. “Joining this programme has had a major impact on my life, and I don’t know where I would be right now without it. I can see the change, including realising the source of my anger and getting the guidance I need to overcome my challenges and become more outgoing, full of life, and free of my past trauma.”

Despite the significant milestones the programme has accomplished, it still requires funding to support its qualified social workers and auxiliary social workers. Doing so will enable them to reach out to even more teenagers and continue spreading resilience and anger management throughout schools in the community.

“Our programme needs funding to support the employment of more social workers or even offer a stipend. We also need more workbooks because we only have five at the moment and have to make copies to accommodate the rest of the boys and the facilitators,” says Muchadeyi.

Although the Majita Asiringeni pilot has focused predominantly on boys, the initiative will soon accommodate young girls and teenage mothers in the community too. For more information on the work of Rays of Hope in the Alexandra community and ways to partner, go to www.raysofhope.co.za