Lessons about drug abuse offered
A fun walk to raise awareness against drugs, child abuse and human trafficking was held on June 26 at Extention Seven in Katlehong Two.
The walk under the theme “Healing, Salvation and Deliverance” was held in line with International Day of Drugs and Human Trafficking Awareness.
It was organised by the Sozo Foundation in partnership with South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (Sanca), Tshohang, South African Men Action Group (SAMAG) and Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre.
Learners from different schools, as well as Early Childhood Development Centres, also joined in.
The walk began at Extension Seven next to Katlehong Customers Care Centre and proceeded via Sontonga Road to the Tabernacle Church of All Nations.
According to Pastor Ephraime Ngcongwana from the Ubambano Pastors Forum, who spoke on behalf of the Sozo Foundation, the purpose of the walk was to raise awareness against drugs.
“We want the addicts and their families to know that we are with them. They have our support,” said Ngcongwana.
On arrival at the church, they started the programme where people were taught to understand addiction and recovery.
“An addict needs us to understand what they are going through and that without our support it won’t be easy for them to defeat the addiction. An addict needs to take the decision to stop being an addict themselves and then follow the right procedures (going to rehab) otherwise you can’t force them to stop taking drugs,” Ngcongwana said.
“After making that decision there is the recovery process. That is another step an addict goes through that we must understand.”
Ngcongwana said they have a programme at Sozo Foundation where they arrange for drug addicts to go to rehab to get treatment.
“After rehab, we also have an aftercare programme where we help parents to monitor the recovering addict’s healing.
“We would love to have a skills development programme where we would offer skills to the addicts after rehabilitation. We only need funds to pull that through. If we can have local businesses support us by providing us with funds we will highly appreciate it,” concludes Ngcongwana.
