Empowering suicidal men: Gali Luvava Foundation offers hope and dialogue

The Gali Luvava Foundation offers hope to men who carry deep emotional pain. In many cases, men tend to keep their feelings bottled up, reluctant to talk about their struggles. Societal stigma often labels men as weak if they show vulnerability or shed tears, contributing to their silence. Tragically, this can lead some men to contemplate suicide as a perceived way out.

Gali Luvava foundation serves as an outlet for such men to open up and talk about the things they are bottling up. Their core objective is to not only train men but to also give them a platform to freely voice what they are going through.

Through its Madoda Kwenze Njani #As’khulume program, the Foundation aims to foster open dialogue among men in a safe and supportive environment, addressing a range of issues affecting them.

Founded in 2019, the foundation is led by Sivuyile Gali, a keynote motivational speaker, serial entrepreneur, and illumination engineer.

According to Gali, the #As’khulume #Madoda Kwenze Njani dialogues focus on five fundamental pillars: physical, mental, financial, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

“Its aim is to assist men of all ages to aspire towards being better men in society and inculcate the idea of talking openly among themselves as men and human beings fundamentally,” said Gali.

Furthermore, the Gali Luvava Foundation has set an ambitious goal to reach 20 million men through its dialogues, aiming to empower them to reclaim their roles in society as positive contributors.

“Its primary focus isn’t to train men but provide a conducive environment for them to openly engage on issues affecting them overall through the facilitation of dialogue thus fulfilling its vision of making better men in society” shares Gali.

Gali’s personal journey and experiences have deeply influenced the foundation’s mission.

Gali’s uncle stepped in as a father figure during his parents’ divorce, teaching him essential values of manhood, discipline, and responsibility towards oneself and family.

Inspired by his upbringing, Gali’s mission became clear: to mentor young boys and mold them into men of integrity, just as his uncle had done for him.

This journey led him to collaborate with Boys Mentorship SA in 2016 alongside founder Mpumelelo Buthelezi, aiming to provide guidance to boys lacking paternal figures.

When asked about his message to men contemplating suicide, Gali emphasized the importance of seeking professional help and talking openly about one’s struggles.

“Committing suicide is a permanent decision and it has a permanent consequence that has been created by a temporary crisis. It should never ever be entertained because every crisis you come across in life is there to build us and make us strong and it also gives us the ability to move forward.

“Men need to start opening up and talk about their problems, they should go to the people who are professionally trained to listen to them and assist in making the stronger side of theirs come out because when you find yourself in a crisis in life you get to be overcrowded by it and the inability to sort out the crisis at the particular moment.

“You need your positive side to start to overpower the negative side you are finding yourself in. Men should learn to trust those who are equipped to help them so that they can open up to them, they should avoid confiding in wrong people who might spread their story and end up adding to their pain,” said Gali.

Gali also called for societal understanding and empathy towards men’s emotional struggles, advocating for men to be seen as human beings capable of feeling pain and facing challenges like anyone else.

The Madoda Kwenze Njani #As’khulume dialogues occur monthly at Clayville Crossing Shisanyama Clayville/Olifantsfontein, providing a regular space for men burdened by emotional weight to find solace and support.

Men seeking to unload their burdens can reach out to the foundation’s founder via:

• WhatsApp: 068 269 6658
• Call: 084 018 2169
• Email: galiluvavafoundation@gmail.com
• TikTok: Gali Luvava Foundation