Fathers of Greenside
‘The Fathers of Greenside’ is an SGB Parent initiative aimed at providing guidance and mentorship to male learners at risk. Male staff and SGB parents join these events and form crucial connections with these young men, discussing important matters related to masculinity and valuable life lessons.
This term, we revisited The Wilds Nature Reserve in the heart of Johannesburg. The Wilds is a wonderful park that showcases how the determined actions of one individual can make an extraordinary difference. James Delaney is an artist who resides in an apartment building in Killarney, directly next to the park. Delaney found it odd that he had to get in his car and drive to other parks around Johannesburg simply because The Wilds was considered a dangerous area and a one-way ticket to a mugging (or worse). So, Delaney spent his free time in the park, weeding, gardening, and restoring the overgrown pathways to create a welcoming and inviting space.
No matter how hard he tried, however, he could not convince more people to visit the park because of its reputation. Delaney used his natural talents as an artist and began installing his own creations in the park, mostly large and colourful metal sculptures of animals, as well as some mosaics. This was done to draw the attention of passersby and create a buzz online. It worked, and now our biggest concern when taking learners there is where we will park, as The Wilds is full of visitors every single weekend. His devotion and actions serve as a reminder to our boys that anyone can make a difference in their community if they take action themselves.