The Story of an Inspiring Man That Almost Didn’t Get Told

Photo Credit: Marlon Reinholz

What began as a film class project with a bumpy start of conflicting schedules ended up reshaping how Charles Jacobs sees manhood, all thanks to an inspiring local role model named Hosana Mdumane.

Port Alfred, South Africa (28 July 2026) – Some projects are daunting or challenging to see through, but completing them leaves us changed forever. Charles Jacobs, a third-year BCom Hospitality Management student at Stenden South Africa in Port Alfred, knows this firsthand.

He was recently part of the Digital Storytelling for Social Change Minor at Stenden South Africa and was given the opportunity to partner with Ezibeleni Home-Based Care Centre, the organisation implementing the Men Championing for Change programme in Nemato, just outside Port Alfred.

The Men Championing for Change is a social behaviour change initiative developed by the Department of Social Development and implemented locally by community partners like Ezibeleni Home-Based Care Centre to foster positive masculinity.

As part of Charles’ storytelling project, he was introduced to a remarkable man named Hosana by the programme coordinator, Simpiwe, who believed that Hosana’s story could help others see a different picture of what it means to be a man.

But this story almost never happened.

“I almost walked away from this project. Not because I didn’t believe in it. Because I couldn’t find the man whose story I had come to tell,” Charles says.

For weeks, Charles and Hosana’s schedules never aligned.

“Every time we arranged to meet, something came up. Community responsibilities. Family commitments. Life.”

As Charles’ university deadline drew closer, he started questioning whether his decision to work on a project on his own had been the right one. He came close to leaving it behind and joining one of the other student groups instead.

Then one afternoon, Charles finally received a WhatsApp message that changed everything.

“Hosana had been delayed because he was helping his wife with family responsibilities. At the end of his message, he apologised by saying: Please tell Charles my apologies… and if I don’t go home, it means I don’t care.’”

Hosana and Charles meeting for the first time. Photo Credit: Marlon Reinholz

Looking back, that was the moment everything shifted. Before Charles had even met Hosana, he had already taught him something about the kind of man he was.

“When we finally met a few days later, Hosana welcomed me into his home. His Wife, Blossom, welcomed me into their family, and I had the privilege of spending time with their son, Siyakholwa.

“I also had the privilege of spending time with Father Gotyi, one of Hosana’s mentors, and his father, who is more than 100 years old. Listening to them speak about fatherhood, legacy and becoming a man added another layer to the story I was beginning to understand,” Charles reflects.

What struck Charles the most wasn’t anything Hosana said. It was the way he lived his life. There was nothing performative about it.

“He wasn’t trying to impress anyone or become the face of a movement. He simply loved his wife, was present for his son and served his community. The more time I spent with him, the more I realised that caring wasn’t something he talked about; it was simply who he was.”

As Charles documented Hosana’s life, he got to witness and experience the impact one person can have when the values they talk about become part of everyday life. Somewhere along the way, the project stopped being about making a film and became about understanding why programmes like Men Championing for Change matter.

The journey eventually became Hosana Is Man Enough to Care – an eight-minute documentary exploring positive masculinity, fatherhood and legacy.

“But the moment that has stayed with me wasn’t behind the camera. It was sitting with Hosana’s family and the Ezibeleni team during their private screenings of the film. There were smiles, laughter and a few tears, but what stood out most was the sense of pride. Not because someone had made a documentary, but because someone had taken the time to tell the story of one of their own.”

Hosana’s family screening. Photo Credit: Marlon Reinholz

Charles notes that we often hear about what is broken in our country, but not nearly enough about the people quietly working every day to make it better.

Meeting Hosana also made him realise that he isn’t an exception. That across South Africa there are fathers, husbands and mentors quietly choosing a different path. They may never receive recognition for it, but the impact they have on their families and communities is real.

The Men Championing for Change programme encourages men to reflect on masculinity, build healthier relationships and become more positive fathers, partners and role models within their communities. Like many community-based initiatives, its ability to reach more men and families depends on dedicated facilitators such as Hosana, strong community partnerships and continued support.

“When I started this project, I thought I was making an eight-minute documentary. Looking back now, I think it gave me something much more valuable. It reminded me that behind every programme, every community initiative and every statistic are ordinary people making quiet decisions that change lives. Hosana’s story is one example of that.”

Charles hopes that his short film encourages more of us to notice the many other men across South Africa who quietly choose care every day, and the programmes helping them become the fathers, partners and role models their communities need.

Because, as he puts it, those are the kind of men we don’t hear about enough.