Ex-convicts motivate Spartan learners
The kids were motivated not to enter the grizzly world of crime and to stay away from drugs
FORMER convicts who have rehabilitated their lives and started an organisation that advocates crime prevention and anti-drug abuse visited Spartan High School on June 18 to raise awareness on these important issues.
Still Rise, founded by rehabilitated former prisoners Solly Mankga and Price Msiza, is a non-profit organisation for rehabilitated prisoners that wants to do good in the community by taking part in various social projects. These projects include raising awareness and educating, especially the youth, on issues such as crime prevention, drugs and alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy and bullying.
“My partner and I, Price, have collaborated with the Departments of Social Development and Correctional Services, Tembisa SAPS, Khulisa and Nicro, to form this NGO as part of our own rehabilitation,” Mankga said.
“It is important that former prisoners give back to the community through projects such as this one. It might seem cool to them to be a part of gangs and always having money to buy fancy cars and clothes but they should know that this is not the lifestyle to lead and in the end, they will pay badly for it.”
The organisation has a well-structured programme that takes learners through a test that will help determine where the problem area of each child is, whether it is behaviour or concentration, so that a suitable solution can be found to address the issue with the help of both the teacher and parents.
“We also have various partners on board, including a life coach who gives the children solid advice on how to lead a good life with the right morals and to be determined in life to make something of themselves.
“The programme is also broken down into various themes such as life behind bars, behaviour and choices; where each of us speaks on a particular topic that is either close to our hearts or that we have experienced.”
Also involved in the project is DA PR councillor for ward 8 in Tembisa, Ruth Shabalala, who has supported the project greatly through organising events for them to speak at and slots at schools within the community where they can speak.
Msiza and Mankga also plan on building a skills development centre for former inmates, a place where they can go as a form of rehabilitation and a way of acquiring skills to find or create employment for themselves. “Our vision for the skills development centre is that we equip ex-prisoners with the relevant skills and abilities to either find jobs for themselves or create employment for themselves. Skills included in the programme would include welding, fashion design and sewing, art as well as IT skills.
“We have already identified a building in Tembisa but don’t have the funds to acquire it yet, which is the only thing setting us back at the moment. But hopefully, through more exposure, we’ll have sponsors in the near future.”
For more information, call Mankga on 083-873-2668 or Msiza on 073-037-3065.
