The South African Breweries (SAB) has reintroduced its successful Tavern Intervention Programme for Men, known as TIP, which, through a series of workshops in taverns across South Africa, aims to drive attitudinal and behavioural change in men identified as perpetrators of social ills, including crime.
TIP is a partnership between SAB and a local NGO, Men for Development in South Africa (MEDSA), and seeks to provide men with appropriate skills and knowledge to effectively help combat crimes closely linked to alcohol abuse. It is one of the few programmes of its kind in existence in South Africa.
SAB partners with a number of community based organisations and leaders to ensure the success of the TIP and to help identify those men who require intervention as well as those who wish to be affirmed and become agents of change within their communities. These include community based organisations focused on upliftment, Community Development Workers (CDWs), Community Policing Forums (CPFs), Community Patrol Units (CPUs), tavern owners, Provincial Liquor authorities, Liquor Traders Associations, SAPS and influential community leaders. Police databases assist in identifying perpetrators and social workers may also make referrals to the programme.
Each workshop, targeting 60 men, is held in a local tavern over a period of five days, and encourages active engagement by participants on several social issues.
The content of each workshop is based on issues and trends prevalent in South Africa and across the globe. It seeks to promote responsible alcohol consumption; support SAB’s Alcohol Strategy; reduce the impact of HIV and Aids; promote human rights, and in particular children’s rights; minimise gender based violence and contribute to a reduction in crime.
Amongst others, the men are educated on the importance of eating and drinking water when consuming alcohol, HIV/Aids transmission and how to accommodate people infected and affected by the disease, the importance of circumcision in the promotion of men’s health, understanding and promoting the rights of women and children, conflict resolution, family values and healthy living.
“SAB understands the responsibility that comes from being a leading corporate citizen, and is constantly striving to be a force for good within society. It is for this reason that we have long taken a leadership role in promoting the health and well-being of the communities in which we operate.
“Through the TIP SAB wants to be part of the solution by not only addressing the symptoms of the problem but by targeting its source. Empowering these men with the necessary information to become ambassadors of change will mean a better life for their families and entire communities, ” says Mpho Sadiki, SAB Head Sustainability and Transformation.
The TIP was first introduced in 2008 as a pilot programme and officially launched in 2010, ending in 2012. During this four-year period the programme reached more than 2000 men in local communities.
SAB is targeting at least 360 new intakes aged 18 and above in various parts of the country between mid-September and early 2015.
At the final day of the programme, participants are rewarded during a graduation ceremony with a certificate of participation. They are encouraged to sign a pledge of commitment to be ambassadors of change and champions within their community.
A Men’s Support Group (MSG) is formed by the men and meets once a month. Here they consolidate what they have learnt during the Intervention Sessions, they are able to discuss and share problems or be referred to an expert organisation, such as SANCA, FAMSA or social Workers for further intervention. Behavioural changes in the men are tracked through the support groups.
