Siphesihle Mtshweni motivates primary school learners

Siphesihle Mtshweni, a Grade Eight learner at Rhodesfield Technical High School, aims to support learners through her school talks campaign called Kiddies Talk.

The 13-year-old is currently hosting motivational talks with primary schools, namely Mayibuye Primary School and Phomolong Primary School. Her topics include alcohol abuse, teenage pregnancy, stealing, self control and self respect, rape and respect.

She said the reason she decided to have these talks is that every day she witnesses a lot of girls getting pregnant at an early age.

“A lot of cases begin from one losing self control and respect towards their elders. I also had to see a lot of young girls committing suicide because of early romantic relationships – a girl loses her boyfriend then commits suicide,” said Mtshweni.

“There has been a high level of rape in the country. It’s high time we have peer conversations about it and figure out reasons behind and solutions to it. It hurts to see a woman being raped and killed, so I advise girls to stay away from older boys and men.

“Also, boys must be able to stand up and voice out such actions with immediacy,” added Mtshweni.

“From how I was raised, I believe no child should shout at and disrespect an elderly person, no matter the frustration caused. It hurts to see a child disrespecting an elder.

“Also, I wanted to remind others that life is precious even with social challenges, and we have the police and social workers to run to. We can avoid some of the atrocities happening to us,” said Mtshweni.

She also said she would like to continue pursuing her modelling career because she has the support of her mother, Duduzile Precious Mtshweni.

Duduzile said the talks are one of the platforms that will help her daughter acknowledge her beauty, knowledge and boost her public speaking, while realising her weaknesses and transform them into strengths.

“This will also help her stand firm with her decisions, because by now she knows what is beauty with a purpose.

“I have always been a supportive mother. I realised that she needed someone she could connect with at all corners of life, so I decided to get her a mentor who guides her through everything, from pageants, charity projects and livelihood seminars, which she is so fond of,” said Duduzile.

“This also made me see the clear picture of how ‘it takes a village to raise a child’, and now I am currently helping her start her own foundation for children called Othandweni.

“The foundation will aim at assisting the young ones with school work, from preparing them how to write, read and prepare a speech. If expansion is needed, we will expand to also help them apply for high school,” said Duduzile.