By Nafeeza Sakur

THE New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission (NJASHM), in collaboration with the ministries of Health, Education, Social Cohesion and Social Protection, and along with several non-governmental organisations, on Friday held a massive walk, rally and awards presentation ceremony to raise awareness of the need for fathers to honour their responsibilities.The initiative, a brainchild of Pandit Suresh Sugrim of the NJASHM, sought to address the roles and responsibilities of fathers to their children and to society as a whole, and to get men to be role models to their children.

The well-attended event saw several hundred people, including students from various organisations, braving the drizzle to march from Dr Tulsie Street in Williamsburg to Spready’s Square in Port Mourant, Corentyne.

During the march, participants held various banners and posters depicting positive messages about fathers and their roles.

Delivering the keynote address, Attorney-at-Law James Bond reminisced on his days as a young man and on the lessons taught to him by his father.

He related that while he heard what his father had said, he did not realise the importance and impact the lessons had until he became a father himself.

“At an early age, my father taught me some very important things as a child; but when I grew up and became a father, I fully understood everything my father spoke about. One important thing he spoke about was (that) the world is governed by systems and principles, and so is fatherhood.

“Persons limit fatherhood to the man responsible for the home, (but) fatherhood is beyond that; in my own estimation, I believe a community builds a child. I believe a village raises a child; a temple, a mosque, a church raises a child. I believe fatherhood could be redefined into just more than one person. We need to get back to that position where we not only criticize, but challenge ourselves to become better, not only for ourselves.”

LOOK OUT FOR ALL

Bond also challenged males to be fathers not only to their biological children, but to every boy or girl in their community and country.

“Even if you grow up in poverty or in the ghetto, that’s no excuse; everyone in Guyana comes from humble beginnings. We should be limitless in our thinking. I don’t think we should ever put ourselves in a box and limit what we can achieve because of fatherhood, and that is why we must embrace this movement and urge for greater support for our children as fathers,” he advocated.

He encouraged every young person to “remember the words ‘protection, provision, instruction and inspiration’. These, he said, are the key responsibilities of a man, not just a father.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told the gathering that many of society’s social ills are as a result of the diminishing roles of parents, especially fathers.

“The role of fathers in our home cannot be over-emphasised because, traditionally, fathers have been seen as people who are the authority in the home; who are the breadwinners, the person a child can look up to for advice, and who is a persons a child can turn to for advice whenever there is a need. Sadly, this is lacking today, and you find children turn to other sources for advice and end up on the wrong track,” he declared.

He praised the NJASHM for raising awareness on the role of fathers, and encouraged other organisations to come on board, since fathers, too, need advice.

MEN NEED SUPPORT

“We notice all these places set up for women, but where are the places set up to help men? Sometimes we have to be able to bring in our fathers and counsel them and let them know — instead of when they come home from socialising with friends — they can be home and socialise in their home with their wife and kids, and do things together…

“What we find is that when these people come out of their places on weekends, instead of spending their time at home and money at home, you find they spend it in the rum shop. We are here to make that clarion call: that our fathers (should) continue to perform their duties in their homes, and their (children) should be able to look at the traditional roles fathers have been playing; and in that way society will be a better place.”

The Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Programme Coordinator Sharon Patterson applauded the NJASHM for hosting the event, and pledged the ministry’s support to work with the organisation.

NJASHM President Suresh Sugrim also called on men to be more involved in society, instead of just being “sperm donors” who feel that their only role is to make children and the rest will be taken care of.

“To the boys who will soon be the men in society, one of the issues is that we are not taking on our responsibilities. We have some that come from homes where we see daddy as abusive to the mother. The question is what you will do when you become a father. I want to say to our men (that) we have good fathers and we have bad fathers, but my challenge is (that they should) stop being sperm donors, because there are too many single mothers who have been struggling with their children.”

He also called on parents to be involved in their children’s upbringing, even if they are separated.

“And I want to say (that) if you are divorced and have children, please don’t divorce your children. Your children belong to you, and, as fathers, we need to stand up and be role models to our children. If you can no longer be husband and wife, be a father to the children; be a part of their upbringing; be a part of their everyday existence.”

The event concluded with prizes being given to several individuals for their outstanding contribution to society.