The African Boy Child Foundation, founded by Levos Ekandjo, is a non-profit organisation aimed at addressing challenges faced by boys and men in the community.
The organisation was established in 2023 to provide support, guidance and resources to help boys and men overcome various obstacles and lead fulfilling lives.
It is currently based in Outapi, Omusati region, where it is making an impact, but it has the vision to touch the lives of all African boys and men to tackle their unique challenges.
Ekandjo said the foundation’s mission includes promoting gender equality, challenging stereotypes, providing mentorship programmes, offering educational opportunities and advocating for the rights of boys and men.
“We address mental health challenges such as depression, and provide access to quality education and skills training
to empower boys and promote physical well-being through health education, access to healthcare services, awareness campaigns and issues such as HIV/AIDS, while advocating gender equality,” he noted.
Ekandjo added, “There are so many programmes advocating for the girl child, but a few that are advocating for the boy child, who is at the top of committing bad acts”.
Along with him, the foundation is currently being run by five volunteers.
“We are using a lecture hall at the multi-purpose youth resources centre in Outapi. That is where we were given an office; we use their facilities, lecture halls for dialogue and
presentations.
So far, we have English classes, as well as literacy classes for adults in the community. We also have high school programmes for instance at Vision Private School, where we engage boys using fun activities, enabling them to get their minds off academics and talking to them about handling stress, time management and so forth,” he added.
He illustrated that the foundation lacks a sustainable source of income.
“As an NGO operating in a resource-constrained environment, securing funds for programmes and initiatives can be a daunting task. This financial constraint limits the scope and activities of the foundation.”
Ekandjo made it clear that although the foundation has been established and is active, it is still in the process of being officially inaugurated, as donors get on board.
“We will launch officially soon. We have one sponsor already. The funds we receive will be used solely for the purpose outlined in the foundation’s mission and objectives,” he continued.