SHARPEVILLE. – The program received support from various stakeholders, including departments under the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM), as well as other governmental and private entities.

The brainchild behind this camp is George Lephoto, a Radio Personality and founder of the Non-Profit Organization, Phothiza Holdings, which focuses on community work for young people.

In an interview with Sedibeng Ster on Thursday, 13 July, which marked the conclusion of the winter camp, Lephoto explained that the objective of the program was to engage children in constructive activities, keeping them away from negative influences within their communities.

The camp aimed to provide additional learning experiences beyond the school curriculum.

Lephoto stated: “This is one of the programs we plan to organize annually. The focus of this camp was to educate children about social issues. We ensured that every child who needed to be here had the opportunity to attend, regardless of their background.”

He emphasised that the camp complemented the efforts of schools rather than replacing them.
Throughout the duration of the camp, various speakers addressed the children on topics such as bullying, drug and substance abuse, and the importance of speaking out. Social workers were also present to assess the children and provide additional support beyond the camp.

Lephoto expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders and his team for their contributions in making the camp a success.

Suzan Gaba, Superintendent of ELM’s Bylaw Unit, encouraged the children to uphold the values of respect and integrity that they learned during the camp. She reminded them of their importance and urged them to make a positive difference in the world.

Gaba thanked the Phothiza Holdings team for their dedicated efforts.