Junior City Council members get their hands dirty to make a difference
Fifty learners drawn from 38 schools across the city spent a week making a difference in their community.
The Junior City Council (JCC) got down and dirty in the past week to make a better future for the youth.
The 50 high school learners from 38 Tshwane schools that make up the JCC took part in the outreach programmes.
“We focus on supporting, educating and linking the youth together to make a better future for ourselves,” said Junior Mayor Leandry Smith of Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria.
“Every school holiday, we have an outreach week where we go to different organisations in need.”
Smith said the JCC aims to do work at organisations such as foster homes, retirement homes, and in environmentally vulnerable areas.
“We clean and support organisations that are in need, and that support youth.”
She said six JCC committees oversee events during the term to raise funds for the outreach programmes.
Five Grade 11 learners have been elected do all the planning and organisation of all the events for the outreaches with the chairpersons of the committees.
“We have been doing a bunch of stuff. On Monday, we went to Gracia child and youth care centre, where there are a lot of kids who get really bored in December,” Smith told Rekord.
The learners hosted a Summer Olympics, putting on sporting activities for the children at the home for a fun day out.
“Then we went to Kiepersol community centre, where we cleaned the kitchen and hall. It needed a deep clean after Covid,” said Smith.
Another group of learners went to Bon Accord Dam to help clear it of waste and invasive plants.
“A lot of fish are dying as it is completely covered by plants and waste, so we decided to clean the dam.”
Smith and 10 members joined Hennops Revival’s Tarryn Johnston clean-up of the river on Wednesday, December 6.
“We want to make this a tradition for the following terms, to come here for a few days and clean up,” said Smith.
The remainder of the Junior Council members made their way to Pretoria Dog Rescue to clean dog enclosures, take the dogs for walks and help feed them.
The current JCC term ends in March, after which a new mayor, deputy, public relations officer, clerk and secretary are elected.
Smith thanked the office of the Tshwane mayor for its support.
“We are just kids, so we don’t always know where we can make the most impact. Their support and guidance has been so important to us.
“We are also grateful to Willie Venter, who is part of the mayoral team,” she said.
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