Moral guidance for the youth

“With the holidays drawing closer, most of young people will be found in parks and on the street corners,” says Thabang Xaba.

“They will have nothing to do, no programmes or school to capacitate them and prepare them for the year ahead.”

Xaba believes the festive season is also a time when many young girls fall prey to the kind of injustices that compromise who they are and negatively affect their future careers.

“We have begun with the girls’ dialogues last Friday at the central Methodist hall.”

The programme caters for both genders, but at times males and females will be separated to make everyone comfortable.

“It is a safe platform for them to be who they are, but most importantly a chance to be better people,” says Palesa Nkosi, a facilitator from Sister Love International.

The foundation says it conducted a survey which indicated that a large proportion of inmates in rehabilitation centres began experimenting with drugs during the festive season.

“It could be from boredom, peer pressure, fun and to escape the reality of not having anything to eat all day,” Xaba explains.

“We cannot do the same thing all the time and expect a different result.

“If the strategy or method doesn’t work, we should be proactive enough as community leaders and activists to change it and use what works for us.”

For Xaba, the fight against drugs, gangsterism and immoral behaviour is everybody’s business.

“It’s all about behaviour change, not just a programme,” says Kamohelo Mohapi, one of the foundation’s facilitators.

“The way one thinks determines the way one will act, and we hope young people will start thinking differently.”

The foundation and its partners are appealing to individuals and businesses to assist in providing a meal for the participants.