Welcome talks with young men in the community, he offers them a new role model. By sharing his story he educates boys about the challenges but explains that change is possible. All of the young men pictured have finished school but can’t find work.

“It is going out there and showing young boys that they don’t have to be like the old Welcome because the new Welcome is much better.”

Background

Welcome Witboi transformed his life to become a women’s rights champion after taking part in a UK aid supported prisons project with Sonke Gender Justice. Their One Man Can campaign tackles HIV and gender-based violence.

In March 2013 the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women will meet to discuss how to prevent all forms of violence against women and girls.

Help demand action by sending a message to global leaders that it's time to put a stop to this worldwide injustice.

UK aid is working in 21 countries to address physical and sexual violence against women and girls and will be supporting 10 million women and girls with improved access to security and justice services by 2015.

Find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk/violence-against-women-and-girls

For more information about the Sonke Gender Justice programme visit genderjustice.org.za/

Welcome is one of our heroes for The Guardian's Ending gender violence: your heroines and heroes photo project.

Picture: Lindsay Mgbor/Department for International Development

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