Doing it for the girls

A young, enthusiastic woman from Mandeni, Nompumelelo Nkosi (21), has started a Girls Network, to groom and unite girls to become leaders, ambassadors and the change that they want to see in their communities.

It all started when the fourth year medical student at UKZN-Nelson Mandela School of Medicine realised that the rate of teen pregnancy was rising in her township and if she did not do something, no one else would.

With Girls Network she will be visiting schools to give motivational talks, female hygiene pad drives, healthy lifestyle talks, career exhibitions and abuse, HIV and teenage pregnancy awareness programs.

Nkosi plans to focus on rural schools because that is where she believes the need is greatest. The poverty facing the girls has also touched Nkosi’s heart.

“Annually we will be looking at identifying families that are poverty stricken and we will raise money for them and find innovative ways of sustaining the change in their lives,” said Nkosi.

Every winter and December they will be holding sleepover workshops called Lelo Ladies Groom, which will focus on grooming advice for young girls and discussing social or economic issues that they face.

The model, actress and dancer said she also plans to reach out to the girl’s parents.

“Since I am still a young women, to be able to preach the word of wisdom to other girls, I must form a strong relationship with their parents to know what their expectations from their children are. My youth also means I can easily pass the message to the girls in a way that they will understand,” she said.

They had the first sleepover workshop in Mandeni on June 27 and Nkosi said she was surprised with the turnout of 57 girls after a very short notice invitation.

“It was a successful night and a broad range of topics were covered. We even managed to get them all gifts (pens, diaries, a manicure set, pads, toothbrushes, roll on, toothpaste and soap). With props and decorations we transformed the hall into a cozy bedroom environment and we had transport provided.”

She thanked her sponsors: her parents, Vibe FM, Dr Hela, Londiwe Ndadwe and the Mandeni municipality.

To join Girls Network you can call her on 060 3143 602 or find her on Facebook as Lelo Mpume Nkosi, Instagram: Lelo_nkosi and on Twitter as LeloMpumeNkosi9.