Children encouraged to have good role models
ALEXANDRA - Children of Alexandra were motivated to choose the right role models who they can look up to.
Choosing the proper role model is important to young people because it gives them an idea of how far they want to go in life.
Tamanna4Change hosted children of Alexandra at Thusong Youth Centre to educate them about the importance of choosing the correct role model.
Co-founder of the organisation, Siyabulela Mokebe said they wanted to encourage them to stay on the right path and to keep away from gangs and crimes.
Read: Positive role models for boys
“We do not want to see young people joining gangs and consequently ending up in jail. We also wanted to show them that even though one’s actions are usually influenced by society, they can do the right things by staying in school and become successful,” Mokebe said.
He hopes the youngsters would realise that they have the potential to reach their dreams, despite their circumstances.
The panel of motivational speakers included Wits University’s law student, Shaun Matlhwana, ex-convict Mduduzi Miya and mentor Benny Mashila.
Read: Miss India Gauteng makes dreams come true
Miya told the kids about how he ended up being in jail and how he managed to change his life around. He is now a qualified teacher.
Although the event was a success, Mokebe said it did not go as they had anticipated.
“In the build-up to the event, we went to high schools in Alex to invite the children, but we were told by some teachers that the kids would not attend.”
“Some teachers told us to our faces that they would not inform the children about the event. None of the children from the schools we had approached attended the event.”
He said this made him feel bad because it showed how little some teachers have the best interests of their schoolchildren at heart.
Read: Alex man now author
“This event was not only for the children but for the parents as well. None of them attended. I do not understand why they would do this because we are doing this for the future of their children.”
Mokebe said they had to go around the township and look for children to attend the event.
This was the last event for Tamanna4Change. The next event will be held in the new year.
