Teaching youngsters in Eldorado Park to love themselves

The Eldorado Park SAPS with the First Indigenous People of Southern Africa, the Eldorado Park Community Police Forum, the Youth Crime Prevention Desk and the Social Crime Prevention task team celebrated Mandela Day by giving back to the Greater Eldorado Park community to make an impact and change the mindset of youngsters.

Constable Fezeka Khobo, who is the communications officer at the Eldorado Park Station said that the theme for the day was ‘who am I?’.

Keith Duarte, a community activist and member of the Gonaqua First National Authority said that the stakeholders wanted to teach youngsters that the colour of their skin should never define who they are.

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“Can we truly say there are black human beings? Can we truly say there are white human beings and can we truly say there are coloured human beings? The answer is no. We are all the indigenous people of this country,” said Duarte.

“We believe that knowing oneself and knowing others without discrimination and prejudice is important. It is the only way we can truly live peaceful lives and that is what we would like to teach youngsters,” said Khobo.

“We also used literature as a way of teaching the community about the history of our country and the late Tata Madiba,” she added.

The various stakeholders visited four underprivileged crèches and donated books for the learners to read.

“Reading allows us to empower ourselves, education and knowledge is the key to success,” said Khobo.

“We also provided them with a bowl of soup and bread for them to enjoy,” she added.

The stakeholders ended their programme with a community clean-up campaign along Jan De Naicker Road in Freedom Park. “It was great to see everyone working together for the greater good of the community. Only when we unite can our community prosper,” Khobo concluded.