School-based activist intent on realising a safer Alexandra
Local learner, Ethan Madula, takes a proactive stand when it comes to tackling issues of gender-based violence and bullying in his community.
The future of Alexandra rests in the hands of a proactive, conscientious youth, emerging from within the community.
In December 2024, Minerva Secondary School Grade 11 learner Ethan Madula played a central role in galvanizing a marching procession from the Thusong Youth Centre to Alex SanKopano (see page 2, Alex News, week ending January 31), campaigning against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Read more: Activists reach out to male GBV victims in Alex
On February 5, Madula’s activism earned him the recognition of Thumeka Joos, who serves as the dialogue facilitator and community outreach specialist at Thusong Youth centre. Joos was referencing how the youth centre was able to develop a close relationship with Minerva Secondary School.
Also read: Hope as Alex sees January with no reports of GBVF
“Last year we had a learner from Minerva, Ethan Madula, communicating with us, and also attending our dialogue circles,” said Joos. “We sat with him, and his team, and discussed how we can assist schools with mental health wellness, and address issues that they face as learners, such as teenage pregnancy.”
While in Grade 9 at the school, Ethan established the Lesedi Youth Batho (Light Young People) Foundation, through which he said he stands up for people who are scared to speak out against gender-based violence (GBV), and injustice. He recalled how he had already experienced hard-hitting betrayal from people he regarded as family, and how bully culture had almost cost him his dignity as a young person. He shared what lead him to establishing the organisation.
“My life was difficult, and I struggled to get support from the community, and also people from my family, until I got in touch with social workers, but even then I didn’t see any solution for me to get justice,” said Ethan. “I started to plan my first campaign alone, until I just saw things happening, and the foundation working well, and growing after every presentation I made to different [local stakeholder] organisations.”
Ethan said that his school, and all the organisations he has worked with throughout 2024, had played a supportive role in assisting him with launching his activism in the community. In closing, Ethan weighed in on the issue of bullying that’s affecting the well-being of learners across his community.
“I have been bullied by people close to me, at a time when I didn’t understand how or who to report the bullying to,” said Ethan, who now knows to recommend Thumeka Joos’ martial arts classes at Thusong Youth Centre. “To all victims and survivors of abuse. I’m here to stand with you.”
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Related article: Can knowledge of self be the cure to GBVF in Alex?
