Girls and Boys Town SA joins global conversation on ethical leadership
Girls and Boys Town SA marks Global Ethics Day with a focus on living ethical principles, fostering trust, and strengthening leadership to ensure every child in its care is treated with dignity and respect.
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As the world observes Global Ethics Day under the theme “Ethics Re-envisioned,” Girls and Boys Town South Africa (GBTSA) has joined the global conversation, reflecting on its ethical responsibilities and commitment to vulnerable youth.
Hosted annually by the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, Global Ethics Day invites institutions and individuals worldwide to rethink the role of ethics in creating a more compassionate and accountable society. For GBTSA, the day is both a reflection and a pledge to maintain public trust, strengthen accountability, and ensure that the organisation’s values remain transparent and deeply humane.
“Ethics for us are not just spoken values; they are lived principles,” said Karen Farred, CEO of Girls and Boys Town South Africa. “True ethics is not just about doing what’s right when others are watching but it’s about choosing integrity even when no one is looking. At GBTSA, ethical leadership begins with empathy, honesty, and the courage to reflect.”
As part of its ongoing governance-strengthening agenda, GBTSA launched an Ethics Integrity Programme in July 2025. Farred explained that given the organisation’s primary beneficiaries, the youth, and key stakeholders, including fragile communities and donors, building ethical leadership, consistency in decision-making, and emotional accountability across all staff levels is vital.
For over six decades, Girls and Boys Town South Africa has served as a sanctuary for children facing unimaginable hardship. The organisation continues to foster environments where dignity, respect, and moral responsibility guide the care of every young life entrusted to them.
“This programme shows our proactive approach in rebuilding the public’s confidence, compassion, and accountability, ensuring transparency remains at the heart of everything we do,” Farred said. “As we join the world in re-envisioning ethics, we’re not only rebuilding trust with everyone that closely matters but also reshaping the moral foundations that guide how we care for and uplift our children, our staff, and our communities more broadly.”
On this Global Ethics Day, GBTSA stands united with institutions worldwide to reflect, reimagine, and reaffirm the values that sustain humanity. “At the core of ethical practice lies a simple truth: keep doing what is right, even when no one is watching,” Farred added.
About Girls and Boys Town South Africa Since 1958, Girls and Boys Town South Africa has been dedicated to healing children facing hardship. Beyond providing shelter, the organisation helps children reclaim their joy, rediscover inner strength, and build a future they can be proud of.