Changing Traditions

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4.

In Tau's community, men are the center of society. They're the head of the government, the head of the family, the head of community influence. When Tau participated in a RiverCross workshop, he became aware of the many ways through which men are able to leverage their position in society to exploit children, particularly young girls. 

Tau was especially convicted by his culture's traditional practice of "lobolo" which is a bride price paid by the groom to the bride's family shortly before the wedding. Lobolo can be an act of gratitide to the family for raising their daughter into a suitable wife and demonstrate the man's ability to financially support their daughter. However, lobolo can also be used transactionally, exploiting families in financial need into giving their daughters for marriage. 

In light of his new knowledge of child exploitation, Tau has begun the conversation with leaders in his community and church to consider the traditional practice of lobolo and others like it, evaluating their practices against their faith and community values. 

Praise be to God that Tau is using his position of influence to establish the men in his community as protectors of women and children, doing everything in their power to protect the potential to thrive.

*Although the stories we share are true, identifying details have been changed.