Katlehong residents unite teens to shape the community
They went out to clean the streets, sweeping them as a token of new beginnings and starting their lives afresh.
After three years of struggling to find help to put together an event to address challenges facing teenagers, residents finally held their first independent event at 166 Credi Section, Katlehong, on February 12.
Comet Phiri (51) and Itumeleng Matsheke (39) partnered to host an event with the theme Vision Board 2022.
The event is meant to teach teenagers about life, including peer pressure and the changes that occur in their bodies during puberty.
Speakers who supported the event included Poppy Phiri, Rev Sikhakhane from St Peter’s Anglican, Pastor Sicelo Magudulela, W Buthelezi and senior citizen Lunga.
Phiri said the event was long overdue. They initially planned to host it in 2019, but because of a lack of resources and support, the event was postponed.
“This year, I tried again and God gave me the strength and direction to do it. God’s timing is so accurate,” said Phiri.
She said they went out to clean the streets, sweeping them as a token of new beginnings and starting their lives afresh as the community and parents were very supportive.
She said her area in Credi Section has a lot of teenagers and youth, who they wanted to teach why they witness certain changes in their bodies.
When they notice those changes, it does not mean that they must start doing wrong things because of peer pressure, she added.
The teens were taught how to take care of themselves, behave in certain places and respect themselves, their parents and the community.
They were tasked to create vision boards for 2022 using charts.
“Everyone has dreams. To create them, you need to write them down so that you don’t forget them. “Even in the Bible, God instructed Habakkuk to write his vision and dream of where he wants to take the Israelites,” said Phiri.
She said the purpose of creating the vision board was to ignite their minds with the possibilities of their dream.
“We allowed them to dream big by giving them magazines, glue and scissors to cut whatever they wanted to use to create the dream on the vision boards.
“They took their boards home to remind them of their goal every day. It was a very fruitful, beautiful and blessed day to experience,” she continued.
“We thank everyone who donated and contributed to this and those who carried us in their prayers to make this event a success.
“Most importantly, the young people were very happy. They were already asking the date for the next event before we even finished,” she said.
Phiri said her wish is to take the event further and share the idea with the whole of Kathorus to help the youth know and understand themselves better and to show parents that it’s not that bad, as they can still encourage the youth to make wise life choices.
