Local learners empowered for their future and how to avoid crime
Forte Secondary School and Kelokitso Secondary School were the two local schools that participated in the programme.
The Communities and Justice Programme aimed at empowering high school learners to make positive choices through understanding the consequences of criminal activities was concluded last week.
The 13-weeks programme ended with an award ceremony hosted by the Safer South Africa Foundation (SSAF) in partnership with various security cluster departments and their sponsor, Clinix Health Group.
Forte Secondary School and Kelokitso Secondary School were the two local schools that participated in the programme.
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General Riah Phiyega, CEO of SSAF said, “Previously in the police stats we never had crimes reports on educational institutions. However, today they have a category. In the last quarter there were seven murders, over 69 rape cases and over 250 assaults and majority are in high schools.”
Crime being a pandemic in townships and schools being a microcosm of the society, SSAF saw the need to conduct anti-crime conversations to help learners make informed choices for their future.
“No child is born a criminal, somewhere these children are socialised and inducted to criminality. The programme is meant to change the behaviour and attitude of a young person towards crime,” General Phiyega added.
As part of the Clinix Health Group’s initiative to give back to the communities they operate in, their focus is on the development and empowerment of the individuals towards achieving their maximum potential.
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“Let us work together in ensuring that the communities that we are in are safe and children are taught from an early age that crime is never an escape. We will continue to support other initiatives that have a similar impact in our youth,” said Camagwini Rebe, Marketing Manager at Clinix Health Group.
To consolidate their understanding of the negative impact that crime can have on their future, learners were taken on experiential visits to Roodepoort Court, which provided an oversight look at courtroom proceedings.
They also visited the Johannesburg Correctional Centre (Sun City) and the purpose was to show them the reality and consequences of where bad decisions can lead them in life.
Deputy Principal of Forte Secondary School, Yvonne Matsila said, “They have transformed our learners and their previous ill behaviours are gradually fading.
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“We are going to give them the platform to address other learners about the programme because we want to see a safe SA where we walk freely without fear of being harmed and violated.”
Regardless of the rapid growth of crime in South Africa, there are positive crime prevention programmes that aim to change the mind-set of the youth when it comes to making better choices for their future.
