Silkworth visits Hawks Academy for drug awareness
The Primrose SAPS corporate communications officer, Sergeant Styles Maome, commended the stakeholders for hosting the event.
Silkworth Drug Recovery Centre hosted a drug awareness campaign at the Hawks Academy on February 8.
ALSO READ: Hawks Academy first matric class achieve 100% pass rate
The event aimed to educate learners about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
The Ke Moya truck was used as a stage for members to deliver their addresses.
Primrose Youth Desk, Ekupholeni Mental Health and Trauma Centre and the Primrose SAPS were part of the programme.
Dancers entertained the learners while speakers showcased their skills.
“Life is beautiful without drugs,” said a speaker who discussed the effects of drugs.
Project Manager Jabulile Kalipa said there were many reported cases involving learners under the influence of drugs, mostly marijuana.
“There was a learner who came to school under the influence of drugs, and we were called to attend to the case,” said Kalipa.
“We had to enrol the child in our school readiness programme, and the child had to have counselling sessions with a social worker.
ALSO READ: Veer Steel Mills launches feeding programme at Hawks Academy
“The social worker will have to evaluate the child’s readiness to enrol back in school,” said Kalipa.
“What pains us is that the child misses days of school because of drugs. He receives counselling, and we will monitor his progress, even after returning to school.”
Kalipa said they also engage in door-to-door programmes to educate the community about the effects of drugs and alcohol.
“Sometimes you find that the child’s guardian uses drugs or is an alcoholic.
“We engage with the guardian and take them through counselling. It is determined through those counselling sessions if they are ready to go to rehab,” said Kalipa.
“We have programmes to accommodate learners of different ages and grades,” said Kalipa.
A member of the Primrose Youth Desk, Lwazi Zungu, shared his life story with the audience.
He said that drug use could lead learners into crime, which could lead to a jail sentence.
Zungu said, “You can be queens and kings without drugs,” adding, “You cannot be a king or a queen without respect.
ALSO READ: Veer Steel Mills launches feeding programme at Hawks Academy
“Drugs make you lose respect, I know from experience. No one will spend their time on a drug addict, so study smart, become what you want to be in life and stay respected.”
The Primrose SAPS corporate communications officer, Sergeant Styles Maome, commended the stakeholders for hosting the event.
He said the programme is in line with their school programmes.
“We continue to search school premises, remove illegal items and discourage learners from using drugs and drinking alcohol,” said Maome.
