Learners shown love and support

The event was hosted at the KwaThema Old Age Home, with the aim of equipping orphans and vulnerable children with life skills and information.

Some of the departments that were also present to share and support the learners, were Child Welfare, the Department of Health, the South African Police Services and the Department of Social Development.

“As a department we have found that many children live in homes, racked by the effects of HIV/Aids among other social ills.

“These children, therefore, end up not living in environments where they get support, nurturing and guidance to help them cope with life’s challenges.

“Sometimes their role of being children also changes after the death of their parents, which is why as the HIV/Aids Sub-Unit we hosted this event,” says coordinator for life skills and HIV/Aids in the Department of Education Gauteng East District, Dumisile Kopa.

She adds that it is such initiatives by the department, that ensure the learners are helped to deal with the loss of their parents, cope with their responsibilities, as some are from child-headed families, and other social ills.

It also helps in building their confidence, self-esteem and provides a platform to share information with them on which departments are out there and how they can help them.

“It is our role to do these interventions, so that we can support and help in guiding these young people as we want them to do well, but because of some social ills this sometimes becomes difficult.

“Through this we were also able to just celebrate life with them, while reminding them that help is there, we care, love them and want to see them succeed despite their current situation,” she says.

Kopa thanks all the departments who have helped in making this event a success.