Youth movement gains momentum
DOUGLASDALE - The Douglasdale Youth Desk, United Youth Project and Social Crime Prevention Unit of the Douglasdale Police Station are putting the wheels in motion for youth development by hosting the Matha Fun Run on 18 April at Bel Air Mall on Bellairs Drive.
Matha is the Sesotho word for ‘run’, and the initiative has certainly gained momentum.
Tshepo Marakalala, chairperson of the youth desk, said the theme of the fun run is health and safety. While the initiative will encourage youth to live a healthy lifestyle, it will also shed light on the recent mall robberies and spates of car jamming and smash-and-grab crimes that have been affecting the public. “It starts with the youth,” Marakalala said. “By educating them, we are creating responsible behaviour so that young people will in turn educate their families and communities.”
Vice-chair of the youth desk, Laco Mtlhane, said the fun run would also be an opportunity for youth and especially school pupils from privileged backgrounds to interact and run side by side with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds. Mtlhane said their target audience would be people from the age of 16 to 45. At the event, there will be giveaways to the value of R30 000, in the form of bursaries, learnerships and internships.
Marakalala and Mtlhane are encouraging residents’ associations, churches, schools , youth and non-profit organisations and anyone who would like to volunteer to contact them.
They would also like the public to register online, to participate in the fun run, before the day.
The cost of participation is R150 per person.
Details: 076 309 1832; 072 5962687; www.matha.org.za
Will you participate in the Matha Fun Run on 18 April? Tweet at us and let us know @Fourways_Review and @MathaUYP
