29 Oct 2026

As conversations around mental health, family responsibilities and positive masculinity gain importance, Pelo Ya Monna is creating a platform for men to confront personal struggles, share experiences and redefine what it means to be a man in contemporary society.

The initiative, spearheaded by entrepreneur and community development activist Gape Tubego in collaboration with entrepreneur and gender activist Bridget Pemole, will tomorrow host a men’s talk session themed New Beginning in Palapye.

The event seeks to provide men with a safe and supportive environment to discuss issues often left unspoken, including childhood trauma, anger management, addiction, financial pressure, absent fathers and societal expectations of men.Pemole said the initiative was established to give men an opportunity to express themselves freely without being judged or negatively labelled.

“In most cases, women have more platforms where they can openly discuss their challenges, while men are often expected to remain strong and deal with their problems alone. When a man struggles, he can easily be perceived as irresponsible or even evil, without anyone understanding what he is going through,” she said.

She explained that Pelo Ya Monna initially held one-on-one sessions, during which men were encouraged to speak honestly about their experiences and challenges.

According to Pemole, the discussions revealed the need to expand the initiative into a larger gathering where more men could engage in meaningful conversations and learn from one another.

“Our previous sessions created a safe space where men could talk openly about issues affecting their lives. We discussed childhood trauma, anger, absent fathers, financial pressure, addiction and societal expectations. It was not about lecturing men, it was about men talking to men,” she said.

She added that the decision to organise a larger event followed participants’ willingness to open up about personal struggles, some for the first time.

Pemole said the impact of the previous sessions was evident in the relationships participants had built and the positive changes some had made in their lives.

She cited men who returned with friends and relatives, those who reconciled with their families, sought counselling or stopped drinking as encouraging signs that the initiative was making a difference.

She also highlighted continued interaction among participants through a WhatsApp group, where members check on one another beyond the organised sessions.

“For us, success is not just about the number of people who attend. It is about men who begin to heal, repair relationships and support one another even after the sessions have ended,” she said.

The upcoming event is expected to attract between 120 and 200 men aged 18 and above. The organisers are targeting both young men navigating the early stages of adulthood and older men carrying family and community responsibilities.

Pemole said the gathering would be exclusively for men, although the initiative was led by women.

“We believe it takes a community to raise a man. However, the audience and conversations will be strictly for men, so they can be vulnerable without fear of judgement,” she said.

She explained that the selection of speakers was guided by their lived experiences, community involvement and willingness to speak honestly about their journeys, rather than their professional titles alone.

The programme will bring together voices from different backgrounds, including traditional leadership, public service, health, faith and agriculture, to offer perspectives on the challenges and responsibilities of manhood. ENDS