The Men Affirming Dignity (MAD) exhibition launched in Atlantis on 18 November 2025. It is produced by the South African Faith and Family Institute (SAFFI), a multi-faith non-profit founded in 2008 to address the faith-related roots of Gender-Based Violence by strengthening religious leaders, faith communities, and engaging men as key partners.
This exhibition comes at a critical time, ahead of the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse, and amidst Men’s Health Month and International Men’s Day, observed on 19 November each year. The theme for 2025 is ‘Celebrating Men and Boys’, which aims to highlight inspiring stories and raise awareness about the challenges men and boys face. The initiative focuses on acknowledging the humanity of African men through history, their stories, and their faith.
The initiative was inspired by SAFFI Founder, Dr Elizabeth Hoorn Petersen’s, desire to acknowledge her father, Daniel Hoorn, who modelled dignity and non-violence in their home. “The impression that media and society have of coloured men is that they are violent. With this initiative, we clap back at society to show that we are more than that and that our men are examples of countless other African men who affirm dignity,” she added. Local religious leader, Pastor Patrick Pickering is one of the men involved in the initiative. Pickering said that men are seen as leaders in our homes, but that we cannot build and maintain a home without the women who serve as our pillars. “In the Bible, I read that women do not have a different spirit from men – we all have the same spirit. So, we are equal because of the same spirit that we carry,” Pickering added. He and Pastor Hester Moses will be leading this initiative in Atlantis. The MAD exhibition is open and free to the public at the Redeemed Pentecostal Assemblies Hall, next to Kerria Primary School. For more information, contact Pastor Moses on 081 432 0145.
