Mamelodi organisations came together on Monday and visited learners from Stanza Bopape Secondary School on Monday to fight social ills within local schools.

The social ills within schools programme is part of the back-to-school campaign, a collaboration between the Thandanani Drop Inn Centre, Matimba Sinqobile Integrated Centre social workers, Mamelodi CPF, 4=1 taxi association, and Mamelodi police.

Kate Kekana from the centre said the programme aims to deliver an important message about the dangers of drugs and substance abuse and to encourage learners to speak up about their challenges.

“The idea of working together helps, because different stakeholders have their own skills and knowledge towards eradicating the issue of drugs, especially in schools.”

Kekana said the school programme is aimed at bringing a message of hope and making learners aware of the dangers of drugs and substance abuse in our communities.

“We are creating an environment for learners to freely talk to us about social issues and encourage them to talk to our social workers privately.

“Thandanani Drop Inn Centre shared their services with the learners and told them about our afternoon and school holiday programmes,” said Kekana.

The programme has an outreach and also addresses bullying, teen pregnancy and gangsterism.

Kekana said this is an ongoing programme, adding they are visiting all the schools in Mamelodi.

“We have different speakers to discuss the different [social ills] with the learners.”

She said the prevention message focused on early intervention, awareness, counselling, and referral of addicts to rehab centres.

“We are also having one-on-one sessions whereby we assess learners and build a long-term relationship with them, making them really understand the importance of not using drugs.”

Anti-drug abuse ambassador, Peter Mamahlodi, who is now eight years sober, talked to learners about addiction and risky behaviours. He encouraged them to love themselves enough to never do drugs and to help their addicted friends.

He said the programme also offered counselling by social workers. “We refer addicted learners to rehab centres for professional help.”

Mamahlodi spoke about different types of drugs and how addicts behaved.

He warned learners about crystal meth, a drug that has taken over the streets of Mamelodi.

“There are many ways that lead to drug and substance abuse – peer pressure, a fancy lifestyle, cigarettes, and hubbly bubbly,” said Mamahlodi.

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