Girls’ forum adds human touch to Heritage Day

KwaThema – Refiloe Mgcina, founder of the KwaThema Girls’ Forum, finds new meaning in celebrating Heritage Day.

“I look at the way most people are proud of their culture, which is a good thing.

“One expects the day to be celebrated and valued in accordance with its meaning,” says the KwaThema Girls’ Forum founder.

Refiloe believes one of the best ways to celebrate African culture is to teach morals, one’s ‘roots’ and humility.

Resurrect Foundation, her other project, has made it their responsibility to teach young adults these important values.

“On Monday, we had a forum where we taught our young girls the importance of self-esteem and good morals.

“When you don’t have self-esteem you can easily be broken and start doing unpleasant things because you want to fit in.”

Refiloe believes young girls are pressured by their peers and end up in situations where they date older men for material gain.

“With or without expensive clothes and phones, you are important and you matter, that is what we tell them.”

The forum continued for the rest of the day at Ekuthuleni KwaThema hostel.

“We wanted to add a human touch with our children there.

“We enjoyed lunch and drinks together,” she adds.

Refiloe urges the community not to forget where they come from.

“The teachings we received were: ‘Remember what you choose today, has a way of affecting your future in positive or negative way’.

“It is all in your hands,” she said.