Wits School of Public Health, in partnership with United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), aims to curb teenage pregnancy in Alexandra through their Communication for Development programme.
Teenage pregnancy has been identified as a major challenge for the youth of Alexandra, and the programme will address this issue with youths of the township. This is the third year running that the two organisations have offered the programme in Johannesburg.
Wits identified Ratang Bana, a non-profit organisation based in East Bank, Alexandra, as an institution that would benefit from the two-week programme. Ratang Bana looks after orphaned and vulnerable children.
Unicef employees from different countries including Bangladesh, Sudan, Portugal and France are involved in the programme. Syeed Milky from Bangladesh applauded the great work done by Ratang Bana during a visit to the organisation.
“I think it is wonderful what I have seen here at Ratang Bana,” said Milky.
“The work that they are doing with community… is really needed. It is [such] support that is required in Alex where the children face a lot of challenges.”
WATCH: Syeed Milky engage with Ratang Bana pupils during their workshop at the centre.
Ingrid Moloi, founder of Ratang Bana, was delighted by the Unicef visit, and said she was determined to help reduce teen pregnancy among the youth of Alexandra.