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Becoming real fathers
Child Protection Society (CPS)
August 03, 2004

However, as the number of orphans in Zimbabwe continues to rise, men and fathers will have to take up responsibility of caring for and raising children, and not only just their biological children, but orphans and extended family members who have lost their biological fathers. And in the context of the orphan crisis in Zimbabwe, fathers will need to fulfil roles in the family that they might not be used to – or comfortable with.

It is projected that by 2010, there will be over 1,400,000 orphans in Zimbabwe. Thus far, woman, mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and foster mothers, have carried a large percentage of the burden of caring for those children without mothers and fathers of their own. And it is to women that most institutions working with children, such as Child Protection Society, have turned to for support in ensuring that all children in Zimbabwe grow up in a family and a home.

As Child Protection Society questioned men, women, and children about fatherhood in the Highfield community, many responses were received that focused on the man’s role of financial responsibility to the family and the woman’s role of emotional and physical responsibility, caring and comforting, feeding and bathing. In Zimbabwean families, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS, it is evident that women are increasingly moving into the workforce and are bringing home money to raise their children. But, are men and fathers investing more deeply in their children’s emotional well-being?

Often men feel that they should not engage more actively in their children’s lives because that is the perceived cultural norm for them to adhere to. Our communities also tend to pay more attention to the negative roles fathers and men may play in children’s lives – as abusers. Only through full societal recognition and reinforcement of the positive and holistic role fathers can play in raising their children will significant changes be made.

In pursuit of our vision of a child-friendly community which facilitates the achievement of full potential for every child and inspired by the Fatherhood Project of Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa and the International Fatherhood Summit held in April 2003, Child Protection Society is pleased to introduce "Becoming Real Fathers", a new endeavour which aims to challenge Zimbabwean men, women, and children on the meaning of fatherhood.

Child Protection Society welcomes you to this initial exhibition of photographs, which document men and fathers engaging with children in ways that might not be commonly seen - caring, playing, comforting, and teaching. Alongside the photographs are reflections of fatherhood gathered from children, men, and women. CPS hopes that this exhibition is only the first phase of "Becoming Real Fathers".

We use "father" broadly, to include not only biological fathers, but step-fathers, foster fathers, and all other men who are important to a child, such as older brothers, uncles, neighbours, and others.

Visit the Child Protection Society fact sheet

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