Leah’s love for children motivates her to help
The young model is passionate about educational empowerment and mental health.
POLOKWANE – Leah Baloyi is a semi-finalist for the Miss Limpopo Province 2022 and wants to make a change in children’s lives.
The 20-year-old student at the University of Pretoria is also a model at ACE Models Limpopo. She decided to take on the Boiketlo Health Care and Disabilities Home in Tafelkop. “This home is an orphanage and I want to donate food parcels to them. I will also provide them with psychological help from psychologist Dr Puleng Morena. The children will have one-on-one sessions with the doctor.”
Leah decided on this project because she is very passionate about educational empowerment and mental health. “I advocate mental heath, mainly to process trauma as I believe it is the long-lasting effect of emotional shock and if it is left unattended it can cause long-term physical, emotional en social consequences. Trauma mostly affects children and if they are psychologically damaged we end up with youth who are depressed, lack self esteem, self love and self respect. This results in a high level of gender-based violence because we didn’t fix the broken child in people. That broken child still believes they are what happened to them.”
If Leah wins this pageant she would start to create as many campaigns as possible to help children.
“I aim to create many campaigns so that children and anyone who is traumatised and cannot afford psychologists can get the opportunity to talk to a professional and get help. I aim to lessen the high rate of mental health issues that affect the youth. I will create a platform for children and everyone with disadvantaged circumstances to find their strength and embrace their future. I want them to know how to rewrite their story ever after life stole so much from them.”
Leah’s project will face issues that black society sweep under the carpet.
“A child cannot be traumatised by their upbringing. My project will enable everyone who deals with mental health issues to have a say in their community. It will allow everyone to dream and know that their dreams are valid.
“This project will serve as a bridge that connects one’s dream to reality. My advocacy will better our society and change how trauma is viewed. Remember, we are what we tell ourselves we are. If we fix the mind, we build a better us.”
