A father and son who have found fame as musicians are the guest speakers at a special White Ribbon Day event to be held in Hamilton later this month.
White Ribbon Day is an international annual event held on 25 November. The wearing of a white ribbon demonstrates that the wearer does not condone violence against women.
The Hamilton event – the Dads and Sons Breakfast – will be held at the Western Community Centre and is a collaboration between Hamilton City Council and Family Works.
The breakfast event will feature a talk from Ryan Monga, a pioneering musician and songwriter with the iconic New Zealand r’n’b group Ardijah, and his 22-year-old son Beau Monga, who sprang to national prominence by claiming victory in the second series of the TV3 talent quest programme The X-Factor.
Says Ryan Monga: “A quote from Dr Wayne Dyer: ‘If you had to make a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind. It’s the ego that always needs to be right’.”
Family Works Waikato Area Manager Darrin Meynell says: “We invite men to come along with their sons, grandsons, nephews, younger siblings to support White Ribbon Day and role model respectful relationships to young men and boys. We want this breakfast to foster healthy relationships with our boys and teach them early on that violence against women and children is not okay.”
Hamilton City Council Community Advisor Ioana Manu says the Council has a role to play in ensuring healthy and safe communities in the city, so staff were keen to partner in the event.
“We wanted to contribute to the White Ribbon campaign, so working with our stakeholders on this particular event was a great way for us to show our support.”
The Dads and Sons Breakfast event will be held on Monday 21 November 2016, at the Western Community Centre, 46 Hyde Avenue, Nawton, Hamilton, from 7.45 am to 9am.
To RSVP to this event, send a text message to 021 359 878, or visit the Western Community Centre Facebook page