Thusong Youth Centre’s co-ordinator and dialogue facilitator Thumeka Joos says the struggles of young people in Alexandra are deeply intertwined with the hardships of their home environments.

Joos, who has spent years listening to stories that reveal the depth of this crisis, explained that many children grow up in unstable homes, leaving them vulnerable to neglect, violence, and emotional instability.

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This instability, according to her, is one of the reasons some learners drop out of school and become rebellious or violent.

Joos explained that the myriad of issues, including the violence learners experience at home, frequently spills into schools and communities, where children channel their anger onto peers. “When a child comes from a violent home, he is likely to unleash his anger on other learners.”

She said the environment in Alexandra compounds these challenges, noting how families of ten or more are often crammed into a single room, where children witness drinking, fighting, and arguments daily. She added that in other homes, parents live estranged under the same roof, creating emotional distance that leaves children confused and unsupported.

To reduce the impact of growing up in dysfunctional families, Joos emphasised that families, schools, and the wider community need to work together to understand the circumstances children live under.

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Furthermore, she explained that when a child becomes rebellious or strays from the right path, adults must take the time to reason with them, guiding them away from harmful behaviours.

“Sometimes they rebel, but you would find that they need help.” She stressed the importance of compassion over judgment, adding that the community must also play a role, and adopt a proper approach to supporting young people.

According to her, parents, schools, and neighbours need to collaborate, not only to discipline, but also to understand and guide children.

She believes that by working together, the community can help its youth break free from the impact of dysfunctional families. Without help, she warned, children will likely remain trapped in environments that perpetuate suffering.

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