Department of Social Development honours youth for standing against drug abuse

On Friday, December 08, the Gauteng Department of Social Development honoured the Ke Moja coaches and coordinators at the 11th Annual Ke Moja Awards at Imbizo Hall, University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus.

The Department hosts these awards annually to recognise the quality of work and the performances achieved by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and the youth who led in the forefront to fight the scourge of drugs and substance abuse in the province.

Tebello Mkhonto, Chief Director at Social Welfare said, “These awards stand to recognise and acknowledge the good work that is done by these coaches and NPOs who are implementing the Ke Moja programme in schools and communities.”

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Ke Moja is one of the initiatives provided by the government that aims to impact the lives of learners as well as of young people. It is a social behaviour change programme that helps teenagers navigate their everyday lives in an environment that is surrounded by drugs.

They assist them with ways to refuse taking drugs when they find themselves enticed to use substances. It’s programme that stands between young people and substance abuse in townships.

Director of African Youth Development Fund (AYDF), Nhlanhla Zwane explained that, “Ke Moja is a prevention programme. It becomes much better when we stop young people from consuming drugs during their experimental stages. We try to reach them before they even start to use just to remind them of how their lives will be once addicted to substances.”

NPOs continue to play a leading role in fighting the rampant substance abuse and reduce the demand of drugs in our society.

They aim to prevent substance abuse, provide effective treatment and support, and advocate for policies that address the complex issues surrounding alcohol and drug addiction in South Africa.

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“This is a national programme partnering with NPOs to extend the reach to communities. Using the Ke Moja coaches, the ones we deploy from NPOs to educate schools and communities and prevent our young people from consuming and dying from drugs,” said Mkhonto.

To other young people who want to be part of the social change against substance abuse, they should visit NPOs that are close to them like the multiple SANCA Soweto outlets or WhatsApp this number 087 163 2025 or call 0800 121314.