EACH One Reach 1, a non-profit organisation which mentors and assists teenagers, is reaching out to the community to volunteer in one of their many programmes.

The organisation, founded by Dr Eshia Moodley-Govender and her family, has been working with teenagers in the community by providing support to those struggling with decision-making, high-school illiteracy, poverty, abuse and addictions.

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One of those teens is Luanda Baai from Avoca, a talented soccer player who matriculated and is now starting a work readiness programme.

“Before I joined the Boots and Books programme, I was an angry teenager with no direction. When I met aunty Eshia, six years ago, she and volunteers would come watch us play soccer. After joining the programme, I decided to turn my life around. I started to do better at school, I focused on sport and stopped joining bad company. I had to pass school in order to get new soccer boots,” he said.

Another teenager, Daniel Wilson, said personal circumstances had made it difficult for him to cope with life. Now after being coached by EACH One Reach 1, he has passed his grade and is able to focus on bettering his life.

“I am able to navigate through the obstacles better now. I am currently homeschooling and achieving good marks in my grade because I have support,” he said.

Asive Nkungwana is one of the volunteers working at a local high school, teaching children with learning difficulties subjects such as English, Afrikaans and maths.

“These children have made it to high school, but can’t read so we teach them how to do that. We also help them achieve their goals. They just need someone to help them as many have taken on the role of parenting their younger siblings even thought their parents are present,” she said.

She is encouraging people to devote a few hours of their time to assist these young men and women.

Dr. Moodley-Govender said the teen brain, when it comes to decision-making, only finishes maturing in the mid-to-late-20s.

“Did you know that brain maturation is related to social experiences in adolescence? If you are available, mobile and understand the plight of adolescence, we need you. We offer on the ground training experience and continuous mentorship. We are also eager to learn and collaborate with volunteers or organisations with a shared heartbeat. If you are struggling to support your teens decision-making, we can support your family. We are mobile to Durban North and surrounds: School of Heart Africa helps us remain sustainable by its offerings of teen mentorship and academic tutoring, and parent-parent or parent-teen mediation,” she added.

Call 082 503 5170 for more information.

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