Skosana wants to make a difference
Tsakane - Reach For Life Support is committed to educate or empower communities about interventions against social ills, and participate in engaging young people.
Mthuthuzeli Skosana, director and founder of the organisation, says they aim to provide counselling, do talent searches, give training and coordinate meaningful social gatherings.
“We intend to engage young people and older ones to create focussed meaningful life-improving platforms.”
Skosana adds the community is faced with life-threatening levels of nyaope, wonga, tik and alcohol addiction, as well as other forms of substance abuse.
“Most young people have been into rehabs but are relapsing as soon as they are released.
“This is where we as an organisation intend to come in after a long process of research.”
He says there are many other concerns that can easily be remedied.
“Most communities still believe their numbers and presence in court will influence the presiding magistrate or judge to hand down a long hefty sentence to perpetrators.”
Sadly, he explains, this is not the case.
“We need to have supplementary documents submitted before the case starts.
“The submission alone will prompt the investigating officer to dig deeper in his or her investigation, while prompting the presiding magistrate or presiding judge to consider our position as a community seriously.”
He says community leaders are not well informed about the procedures which need to be taken and simply tend to organise a march to a police station or a court of law – and are often influenced by anger.
“As the organisation we hereby seek assistance to secure funding to educate our communities about the law before they start picketing or toyi-toyiing against any offenders.
“Hit them where it hurts the most,” says Skosana.
As a person living openly with HIV/Aids for over 21 years, he is also committed in the fight against the virus, and believes in the role of education to ensure that people’s voices are heard.
“Our approach intends to change the lives of the people in our communities. We want to ensure that beneficiaries not only restructure their lives but also go back to their communities to touch many lives as changed people – while being able to put bread on their families’ tables.“
For more information contact Mthuthuzeli Isaac Skosana (PLWHA) on 081 054 5109 / 073 380 5433 or Palesa Maureen Papi on 084 456 9504. (Standard call rates apply).
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