What it is
Dear Dad is an anonymous, faith-based public journal where people can write how they truly feel about their fathers. It exists to help people express, reflect, and heal from the impact of growing up with an absent, distant, or inconsistent father.
Tone
You do not need perfect wording. You do not need to explain everything. You only need language that feels true.
Feelings belong here
This is a place to put complicated emotions into words without having to protect anyone from what the truth feels like.
Write openly
Public entries help other young people recognise themselves and help fathers understand the real impact of presence or absence.
For fathers too
The letters are not here to shame or condemn. They are here to invite reflection, humility, and the possibility of restoration.
Mission
Dear Dad exists to encourage honest expression, awaken responsibility in fathers, and create space for healing within families.
We believe God can work through truth, even when it is uncomfortable. This is not about perfection. It is about presence, accountability, and healing.
If you have ever felt unheard, unseen, or forgotten, this platform is built to say your story still matters.
The heart behind Dear Dad
Afikile Sikwebu
Founder of Dear Dad
I am Afikile Sikwebu, and for over two decades I have worked closely with young people, first as a youth pastor and for the past six years as a teacher. Across classrooms, conversations, and years of mentorship, I have witnessed many challenges. But one pattern has remained constant: the quiet, lasting impact of absent fathers.
My own father was absent, but not by choice. He passed away when I was young. Even in that loss, I carried something many others did not: the peace of knowing he would have been there if he could. Through my work, I have come to understand a different kind of pain, one that many young people carry today: fathers who are alive but choose absence, and fathers who are present physically but unavailable emotionally. This pain is often unspoken, and when it is spoken, it is rarely heard.
Dear Dad was created as a response to those unheard voices. It is not just a platform, it is a bridge. For young people, it offers a safe anonymous space to say what has never been said. For fathers, it offers an opportunity to listen, to truly hear the emotional reality their children carry.
A note on safety: This space was built with care. Your anonymity is protected. Your voice matters. What you share here belongs to you.
Some letters may never be sent. But they still deserve to be heard.
Your safety
🔒 Anonymous by default
Your real name is never shown. You choose your username. You control what you share.
🛡 Moderated content
All letters are reviewed before going live. Harmful or abusive content is removed.
📋 Clear guidelines
We publish exactly what is and isn't allowed — no hidden rules.