Youth encouraged to unshackle from negativity

Fouzia Van Der Fort|Published 8 months ago

Pictured from left is Unchain The Plain (UTP) project managerJuven Rittles, hands balls and bats to Mitchell’s Plain Development Action Collective (MPDAC) projects coordinator Tyrone Parks, and colleague. Alongside him are MPDAC board member Franklyn van Reenen, fundraiser Dr Oscar van Heerden, UTP’s assistant project manager, MPDAC’s communications officer Chantlè Hoffman and UTP secretary Ryan Crouse.

Anti-apartheid activists started a youth-centred pilot hub at Tafelsig High School.

The hub was launched at a youth day event at the school on Saturday June 15 with an event themed “We are the future: from despair to Hope”.

The hosts were the non-profit organisation Mitchell’s Plain Development Action Collective (MPDAC), a group of anti-apartheid activists spread across South Africa and the world, which was established during the national Covid lockdown in 2020 to help address food security.

Projects coordinator Tyrone Parks said Saturday’s event was to establishthe pilot hub where youth can be taught about civic duty, education, arts and culture opportunities, and the services offered by organisations and non-profit companies in Mitchell’s Plain.

Imtiaz Joshua, from Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum’s youth desk, said respect, kindness and love went a long way to keeping young people on the straight and narrow.

“Let your past die so your future can survive,” he said.

He encouraged the youth not to hold on to their negative baggage but to make better decisions to influence their future.

“Let the people talk as long as you know you are doing the right thing,” he said.

He said the youth should put their trust in God and not let naysayers, including possible friends who do not share their dreams, sway them.

S.m-Art Supporting Mentorship through Art representatives Sydney “Phoenix” Lewis, from Rocklands, and Thaakir Adams, from Tafelsig, spoke about art changing their lives and preventing a life of gangsterism and drugs. Together with Paint Community, a platform for muralists to showcase their work, they will be painting murals at the school until Mandela Day on Thursday July 18.

Swag Step Crew members pictured at the back, from left, are Cassidy Louw, Erica Kunbi, Skylar Paulse, Darné Joseph, Shiloh Wolmarans, Mikhulu Cebeni and Ziara Webb. In front are Micah Falken, Coach Elgernon van Wyk and his son Eljay, all from Woodlands,

Eugene Adonis, founder of Bonsai Self-Defence Academy explains the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and the use of one’s words. Pictured with him is participant Ziara Webb and his wife and non-profit companies Charlene Bruiners, founder of Cultivating Creativity (CC) Foundation Creative Designs

S.m-Art Supporting Mentorship through Art representatives Sydney “Phoenix” Lewis, from Rocklands, and Thaakir Adams, from Tafelsig, prepare a Tafelsig High School wall for a mural.