Unlocking Minds NPO recently hosted the Ackerville Wellness Day Awareness Campaign that focused on GBV, mental health, bullying, human trafficking, fitness, and entrepreneurship.
Despite the rather challenging weather conditions, the youth and young adults from Ackerville supported the cause and engaged on different topics on Saturday, September 21.
Attendees were served hot drinks and snacks. Various guest speakers attended, including pastors, life coaches, and neuropsychologists.
The interactive session saw individuals with different backgrounds, aspirations, and careers break bread and pour into each other’s cups.
Nontuthuzelo Mabogoane, a life coach and entrepreneur, opened the session with a powerful dialogue that allowed guests to describe themselves to get to know one another better.
“If you do not define yourself, people will define you, and also if you do not set up terms for your life, you will live your life according to other people’s terms,” Nontuthuzelo shared.
She further highlighted the importance of a healthy home, family, and society, “When I used to work at the correctional services, people often asked how I deal with prisoners. I always responded by telling them that they are our brothers and sisters, who were once a part of the very same society we’re in.”
The life coach emphasised that it is the same society that stigmatises and labels them just because they are behind bars, whereas in essence, every prisoner was once part of a community.
Mandla Mhlanga, motivational speaker and entrepreneur opened his session by defining different kinds of stress as well as the symptoms, “There is a positive stress called ‘eustress’ which is almost like positive stress. Say for instance you are preparing for your exam, you are bound to be stressed because you have to perform well, it’s normal. If you experience trauma, it’s normal to be stressed, but it should not surpass two weeks. Should it exceed two weeks, we call that acute stress reaction.”
He ended by advocating for healthy mental wellness through the help of medication. He also encouraged guests to speak out about mental health and form a part of such sessions to engage in dialogues that positively feed into the mind and soul.
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