MCCSA Men’s Group Celebrate International Men’s Day

MCCSA Men’s Group celebrated our first International Men’s Day on Friday 19^th November 2021 at the Adelaide Pavilion, Veal Gardens. Supported by a grant from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet towards the costs of the COVID-19 Outreach Project, the event was celebrated with entertainment, certificate awards and a round table conversation on what can be done to address some of the challenges faced by men in our community.

 

Over fifty people from diverse backgrounds were in attendance and this year’s International Men’s Day theme is ‘Better relations between men and women.’

The program started with the Men’s Group’s MC, Robert Taylor ‘Ragz’ doing the formal introduction. Dan Duggan from Man Walk Noarlunga did welcome to country, followed by MCCSA Chairperson Miriam Cocking who in her speech thank the event participants on behalf of the MCCSA Men’s Group.

The Hon John Dawkins talked about the importance of men talking about their health and his own involvement thorough out his political career in helping raise awareness around suicide prevention.

Our first guest speaker was Rajendra Pandey, currently serving as the Senior Manager Compliance and Contract Management for the Department of Education and also a Captain with the Australian Army.

Rajendra who is also the State President and National Spokesperson of the World Hindu Council of Australia, Board Member of MCCSA and the South Australian Multicultural Ethnic Affairs Commission, shared his Australian experience and the different career paths he took since his arrival to Australia.

Estela Fuentes, our second speaker talked, about the ‘Mariposa Trails’ a cross-cultural community project dedicated to social health and suicide prevention. Mariposa Trails delivers community workshops, awareness and capacity building using the 5 ways to wellbeing to create awareness about social health and suicide prevention.

For this years International Men’s Day celebration, the MCCSA Men’s group awarded Certificates of Appreciation to selected individuals, who are doing outstanding work supporting men and boys in our community.

The certificate recipients were;

• Goitom Tekle – Proprietor African Hairstyle
• Mohamed Zubeir Safi – Volunteer Afghan Community SA
• Luis Gardeazabal – Director, Latin American Society SA
• Robert Klose Executive Member, MCCSA Men’s Group
• Elias Kabura – Chairperson, Burundian Community Men’s Group
• Prof Gary Wittert – Director SA Division Freemason Foundation SA
• Carl Maynard – Volunteer Caribbean Community SA
• Mohamed Beyan – African Village Restaurant
• Mr Koro Lyle – Kaaho – Pacific Island Community of SA Elder
• Irfan Hashmi – Pakistan Community SA (Pharmacist)

International Men’s Day hopes to break stigma and initiate open conversations about men’s health and is now celebrated in over 60 countries worldwide.

Each year the theme of the day changes, but the aim remains consistent: making positive differences to the wellbeing and lives of men and boys, and have open conversations about men and boys’ health.

We’ll like to acknowledge the Mayor of West Torrens Michael Coxon and Prof Gary Wittert, Director SA Division Freemason Foundation SA for their support. We appreciate our guest Speakers Rajendra Pandey and Estela Fuente for sharing both their story and information with us.

MCCSA Men’s Group coordinator Sidique Bah said “International Men’s Day is an opportunity for men to reflect on their wellbeing and find ways to improve gender relations and promote gender equality.

We hope this event to be a start to many more conversations with the men and boys in our community.”

Happy International Men’s Day!!! Thank you to everyone who could attend.