Further research into a front page story of the Springs Advertiser changed the outlook on life of Ourinia Venter (15).
This grade 10 learner from Hoërskool Dr Johan Jurgens did her life-orientation volunteer project on the social issues that negatively impact our community after a story appeared about the Poppiehuis’ problems in the issue of January 29.
Poppiehuis is a place of safety for children in need that has to close down due to a lack of funds.
Ourinia did interviews with the people working at Poppiehuis, the Springs SAPS victim empowerment centre, Hi5Kids and the community policing forum.
About the research she says it is sad and disheartening that women and children are abused to such an extent that they, with the assistance of the police, courts and organisations such as Hi5Kids, have to flee from their homes.
“Our homes are supposed to be our safest place, but unfortunately for a lot of people it is the worst place in the world to live and this makes me angry,” says Ourinia.
She found through her research that the biggest social problems in our town are the abuse of drugs and alcohol and bullying.
“I found that a lot of people no longer care for or love one another and they bully the weaker person, doing what they want without remorse,” she says.
This project reinforces Ourinia’s plan to become a criminal profiler after school.
