NGO is a seed of hope for all young women

With October declared as Mental Health Awareness Month, The Seed of Hope has extended its services for teenage girls and young women. It held a mental health awareness event at its offices on Peebles Farm (the old Acts Clinic). This event was for girls aged between of 14 and 24, to help them identify areas of their lives that have an impact on their mental well-being.

This initiative started in the wake of three schools losing learners to suicide, which is why it was decided to equip young girls with the knowledge and skills to better handle the challenges they encounter.The Seed of Hope is an NGO that focuses on young women. Its aim is to conduct risk assessments on these young women, to identify any challenges they are facing and to offer psychosocial support.

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Its director, Smangele Gladys Pule, affectionately known as Make Pule, said young girls always need remember that they are not alone as there are organisations established to support them. “Young girls are encouraged to speak up about the challenges they face in their lives with social workers. They need to understand that they are not alone; we encourage them not to be afraid of embarrassment, judgement and isolation by either friends or family members. They can also try to exercise, eat healthy, play music they like, read self-help books and stay focused no matter the situation they are facing,” she said.

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Teddy Lubisi, a coordinator of the organasation, said people need to take some time before they react to situations. “Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It is about how you drive, not where you are going. In life you need to teach yourself to change the way you look at things and you will then start to view things differently. Mental health is a serious problem to all of us. You need to monitor the way you think and the way you react in situations. This will improve your choices in life.”

He added that the skills taught are designed to be practised over a lifetime as they will help to prevent violence, address chronic absenteeism, and build a culture of wellness for all the young women.