Qasim is the brainchild behind Taxila’s Activist Club
A Grade 11 learner from Taxila Secondary School, Qasim Osman says he pitched the idea of an activist club at the school to afford learners as well as teachers an opportunity to educate and inform each other on issues that affect them, directly and indirectly.
POLOKWANE – The 16-year-old says he realised that his peers had no clue about the current affairs in Limpopo, let alone in the entire country, which is what prompted him to start the movement in order to close the gap.
“Issues that are faced in other parts of the country often relate or even affect us, even though we live in a different province. So it was this notion that influenced my decision to start the organisation so that as learners we can keep abreast with what is happening in other cities so that we can be strategic about solutions to those problems before they reach us. Problems such as the Fees Must fall campaign which has to do with education was a cry by the youth, a cry to receive education and be afforded an opportunity to make their lives better as well as make a difference in the community,” he explained.
You might also want to read: Taxila celebrate World Earth Day by going green
The Taxila Activist Club is fairly new and currently comprises 20 learners from different grades in the school who share similar goals, vision and mission in life which is to find rational solutions to problems which affect them. Their teacher, Reginah Magolo said that it gives her great joy seeing the learners taking a stand to fight and stand firm to what they believe in.
“Most youngsters grow up confused not knowing what they want out of life, without goals and vision, but these learners have proven me wrong and from this I can see that they will grow to be rational and responsible goal driven young adults in the future. I hope they serve as motivation to other learners from other schools to wake-up and start taking their lifes serious as growth is a continuous process which requires hard work, perseverance and faith,” she added.
The club aims to achieve the following objectives:
1. Develop and mentor future world leaders.
2. Organise and run campaigns such as protests (when necessary to be heard as learners to communicate specific messages to our elders and teachers), petitions and fundraisers.
3. To educate and inform learners about current world situations which affect them directly and indirectly.
“What we plan on doing is bringing in mentors from various organisations and getting them to offer workshops to the learners to equip them with the necessary skills to become responsible future leaders as the movement is all about the youth taking a stance towards a better future and life,” he concluded.
