Fathers Matter

In 2020, Heartlines undertook formative research as the first stage of the development of Fathers Matter (see Related Summaries, below). Informed by these findings, Heartlines worked with early childhood development (ECD) experts and practitioners to create a resource toolkit designed to empower and equip ECD practitioners and others to engage male caregivers in their child's early learning.

At the centre of Fathers Matter is a 6-part edutainment-style film series broadcast on the South African television channel in September and October 2002 SABC2 and streaming on the Telkom One App. Through storytelling featuring local actors, the films explore the complexities around being a father - and being fathered. For example, in one film, Ayize is a struggling artist who becomes a new father when his girlfriend Nomvula has a baby. He is devoted to both her and their baby girl, Zenzile. But he must prove to his terrifying and tough mother-in-law that he is good enough to be a good dad, even though he can't provide financially. (Watch the trailer by clicking on the video, below.) A variety of discussion guides, in English, Afrikaans, isiZulu, and Sesotho, accompany the films and are free to download.

The Fathers Matter website provides access to additional resources for churches and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as details about the online talks (webinars) and other events held as part of the campaign. For example, Fathers Matter hosted an in-person networking event in Rosebank, Johannesburg on July 28 2022, which drew 38 participants representing between 20 and 25 organisations. Relatedly, Fathers Matter Connect Groups involve groups of men meeting in a workplace, social club, local church, or other setting to support one another as fathers, or father figures, and to provide them with information, resources, and discussion materials. The idea behind the peer-to-peer mentoring and accountability gatherings is that men need to be able to talk, share, and be supported in the roles they play. It can be difficult to know how to be a role model or how to support a child's mental, physical, social, spiritual, and emotional development. The Fathers Matter Connect Groups also aim motivate the members to support and encourage each other as fathers outside of the group sessions.

Early Childhood Development

Heartlines explains that the importance of a father or father figure's involvement with his child's learning journey - especially at an early stage - is not always appreciated or understood. Given that a child's brain develops more than any other time in life between birth and the age of five, involvement at this stage is crucial and affects a child's ability to learn and develop. Although many children grow up and thrive when they are raised by single mothers, children who grow up without positive and active fathers are at a greater risk of substance abuse, teen pregnancy, poor academic achievement, and mental health problems, as well as perpetrating and becoming victims of violence.