Knowing your addictive enemy
KENSINGTON B – Sukuma Sakhe Development paid a visit to Randburg Clinic School to teach the children about the effects of drug abuse.
Part of combating the worldwide problem of drug abuse, a local organisation paid a visit to a group of youngsters from the Randburg Clinic School, a school for children with autism and severe behavioural disorders, and were later shocked by how much they knew about drugs.
About 15 children, aged between 10 and 14, recently engaged with Luleka Ntshongwana, Sukuma Sakhe Development’s programme leader, in a first visit by the non-profit organisation that focuses on community upliftment.
The school’s principal, Ronald Batchelor, said organisations like Sukuma Sakhe do make a big difference. “Where else will they get the message from? As educators, we can preach until we are blue in the face, but this is a different approach coming from a different voice. Then they realise that it is not just our view,” he said.
“We gathered more senior children, who we think are more affected by the issue. We honed in on those that come from communities that are infested with drugs.”
Teaching them about the effects of drug abuse and identifying drugs formed part of the programme. But Ntshongwana was surprised when she started to talk about what they knew about drugs. From marijuana and heroin to glue and gunpowder, one by one the youngsters related what they knew – which evidently was a lot.
“We thought we came to make you aware, but you know,” she said.
Baring all, Ntshongwana decided to set up an agreement with them that the information shared in these sessions would remain confidential.
“I need people to trust me. If they don’t trust me they will not engage with me. Here we don’t fight, we disagree, but we work through everything,” she told both the schoolchildren and teachers who attended.
Everyone contributed to and signed the agreement.
Apart from setting up early childhood development centres and employing locally trained teachers across the province, the organisation also focuses on the worldwide problem of drug abuse.
“We have rehabilitative treatment, targeted at troubled children and youth. Throughout the province, we also conduct educational awareness outreach programmes focused on anti-substance abuse and the prevention thereof. It is surprising how many of our youth struggle with this problem,” she said.
The rehabilitation offered helps youth and children by offering consultations and treatment to those dependent on substances.
Details: Randburg Clinic School 011 886 1280; Sukuma Sakhe Development at www.ssd.org.za.
