Drugs – weapons of mass destruction
'This is killing our youth's dreams' — speaker to youth.
Youth Day celebrations continued in Westonaria until Friday last week when motivational speakers addressed the youth in the Westonaria Banquet Hall.
Thozi Ndabeni, senior librarian at the Westonaria Local Municipality was the programme director and the day was filled with poetry, drama and traditional dancing.
The event started off with an opening prayer and the guest speakers were introduced. They were Doctor Khasu-Nkatlo (actress) best known for her role as Dolly Malinga on the E-Tv soapie Backstage. She also played the role of Netta in the Kyknet drama series Kruispad in 2008 and have various roles under her belt. She is currently working for SA FM.
She motivated the youth by explaining her mantra: ‘If you can dream it, you can live it.’
She said the youth must be on top of their game to reach success and that our youth must educate themselves on the internet and do research on different subjects. She also said reading books gives you knowledge and power.
Phillip Ramphisa (Founder of Friendinlife) holds two degrees in Business Administration from Wits University. The Friendinlife organization provides young adults with a trusted friend and role model so that they may achieve the most out of life. Ramphisa suffered depression in his youth but overcame this and many obstacles to achieve his career ambitions. He quoted: ‘Problems do not last, you have the ability to change circumstances.’
He said the three most important ways to become successful is to have higher standards, the discipline to take action and the will to achieve your goals.
He said further, “The youth must party on the weekends and focus on their studies in the week.”
Philani Dludla another motivational speaker overcome drug addiction by reading books. He is better known as ‘Bookworm’.
He had a hard life were he spent many evenings sleeping under the Nelson Mandela bridge.
“Your choices are your freedom but your actions you will pay for.”
He said that drugs are weapons of mass destruction and this is killing our youth’s dreams. A documentary filmmaker Tebogo Malope once interviewed him about his roadside bookstall and posted the video online and it went viral.
Other motivational speakers included Zenzile Rens, a survivor of a serious accident and Edith Kekana (Professor at University of Johannesburg). She said the most important thing in life is to know who you are, to stand up for what is right for you and to love what you do.
Moemedi Bless performed a poem about xenophobia and other important issues the youth have to deal with. Dilahlwane Ramakarane, 6, was part of the traditional dancers and she stole hearts with her confidence and her astonishing rhythm.
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