Ethafeni organisation fights against teenage pregnancy

Ethafeni-based Nonkululeko Mtshali has formed Vintage Girls Club to fight the ever-increasing number of teenage pregnancy in the Tembisa community.

The organisation will be hosting the Amatshitshi competition at Mahlangu church, opposite the Isiziba Primary School. The event will take place on April 28 and start at 8am to 2pm.

Mtshali started the organisation to keep young girls and children out of the streets and keep them busy after school hours. Since its inception in March 2013, Vintage Girls Club has grown tremendously and currently cater for 120 girls from various sections in and around Tembisa.

“I started the organisation because I love being around a girl child. I feel free to share my life experiences with the youngsters in order to encourage them and help to heal some of them who are going through difficult times in their families. We spend most of the time addressing issues of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse and poverty. I know that poverty and poor family issues can lead a girl to engage in early romantic affairs hoping to find comfort. And that’s where all the problems begin. Young people should not think that when one is involved in a romantic relationship, they will find solutions from the things that they personally need to sustain their everyday life,” explained Mtshali.

“Before I started the organisation, I used to own a fast food business but I had to shut it down because I couldn’t cope with the girls as they needed more of my attention,” said Mtshali.

The Vintage Girls Club caters for girls and children from two to 20 years.

With the support from local individuals, Mtshali has managed to sustain the organisation.

“We are appealing to local business people or any Good Samaritan to help sponsor the organisation with anything to keep it alive. We are currently facing challenges of a venue. We host our daily practices on the street. We wish to have a proper space where these children would do their daily routines safely,” added Mtshali.

Despite her venue challenges, Mtshali has never lost hope from guiding the children nor supporting them.

“Some of our projects need a proper space where we can conduct private talks and other exercises. I feel like I still need to know the girls more and I want to see the girls grow from this organisation,” said Mtshali.

Young people at Vintage Girls Club are also taking part in sports, drum majorettes and reed dances.

For more information about the organisation, contact Nonkululeko Mtshali on 072 347 0296.