Retired counsellor ploughs her skills back in local school
“Just because I'm retired doesn't mean I'm tired,” were the words retired guidance counsellor, Faith Mnguni (66), urging retired people to plough back their skills into the schools in their community.
Montclair resident, Faith, worked at Ohlange High School at Inanda as the school matron and counsellor for 15 years. She retired two years ago and since August 2013, has been volunteering five-days-a-week as a counsellor at Mowat Park High School.
“I thought as a resident in the community, I needed to give back. So I offered to work with the girls. I soon realised a lot of them had many issues they had to deal with. I am a mediator at the school and since I have been there, I have seen an improvement in the way the girls treat each other. My being here allows teachers to focus on teaching,” said Faith.
“People say we need the government to intervene but we are the government. We as a community need to stand up and make a contribution.” Faith’s passion for the youth is not limited to the youngsters in her own community, but she also dedicates her weekends to schools in Umlazi and works in ministry.
“When I used to cry to my mother that I only had one child, she used to tell me every child is your child. From then on I started living by the motto, your child is my child and my child is your child. The fact that you were born a woman means you are a mother. I want children to feel a sense of belonging and I want to be a mother to every child and wipe out the word orphan.”
The grandmother of three, who wears her grandmother’s badge with pride, adopted a seven-year-old boy who used to come to her house and ask for food. They boy then started washing her car, and through all their interactions, they bonded. She made a promise to him that she was going to educate him. He is now 35 and works for the municipality. Her grandchildren were shocked when they found out he was not her biological son. She attributes this to the love they have for each other.
Faith, who prefers to be called granny, has written a letter to the minister for higher education and training, Blade Nzimande, requesting him to allow retired folk to volunteer in the schools. She believes it would end school violence and all other negative occurrences in the schools. “A school is as good as a home. When there are elders in a home, there is order,” she said. “Everyone must adopt a school.”
Mowat Park High School’s deputy principal, Amanda Ngidi said: “Faith’s arrival has been a blessing. She volunteers her time and she is not compensated. She took it upon herself to assist the school as a local resident and her work is appreciated. The children go through a lot, which the teachers are unable to deal with and therefore she has been a great help.”
If you would like to receive free counselling from granny, call her on 072-028-9619.
