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Durban, South Africa  Laurence Fishburne, dramatic actor best known for his role as Morpheus in The Matrix trilogy, has been briefed this morning (18 June) in Durban on the Fatherhood Project by Professor Linda Richter, Executive Director of the HSRC's Child, Youth and Family Development Programme.
Fishburne, who is visiting South Africa from 17 – 21 June as a United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Goodwill Ambassador together with the President of the US Fund for UNICEF, Mr Chip Lyons, is famous for his achievements as a great actor and humanitarian. According to an UNICEF statement, since being appointed as Goodwill Ambassador, Fishburne has "contributed immensely to promoting the cause of children and UNICEF through media events and advocacy visits in Africa and elsewhere". Fishburne will be visiting programmes supported by UNICEF including projects for orphans and vulnerable children, particularly those affected and infected by HIV and AIDS; and safe schools projects addressing violence against girls. According to the statement, South Africa has interesting, valuable and positive experiences to share with the rest of Africa and indeed the entire world. "This is a time when it is important to show the world that there are many positive and encouraging stories to be told about South Africa’s struggle to reverse the HIV infection rate and reduce the levels of violence against women and girls." Richter, as leader of the Fatherhood Project, has briefed the visitors on the situation of children and their families in KwaZulu-Natal especially from the perspective of gender, violence against women and girls and the evolving role of masculinities. Representatives of provincial government, provincial action programmes for children, and civil society organisations attended the briefing.
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