VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER
He wants to use his role as a Peace Ambassador to educate other teenagers about peace
RIEDWAAN Samuels is a Peace Ambassador and a Grade 12 pupil at Groenvlei High School in Hanover Park. In September he was shot as he was playing football.
I was shot four times. One bullet hit my liver, the other a kidney, another bullet broke my leg, and the other went through my forearm. I was in hospital for four weeks.
I was confused by the shooting as the person who shot me on September 18 was at primary school with me. I never spoke to him in my life. I was playing football with a few of my friends. He just walked up to within a few metres from me and shot me in my back. I turned around, and he aimed for my head, and I blocked the bullet that hit my forearm. I moved forward towards him, and he shot me in my leg and ran off. I was in complete shock.
My friends called for help, and soon I was on my way to hospital. The prayer that came to my mind was “Laa ilah gha-ielallah” (There’s only one God), which I repeated. God truly did spare my life because not many survive being shot four times and especially in the places on my body where I was shot.
The Peace Ambassadors programme actually taught me that revenge is never the key if wrong is brought upon you, and the programme taught me the value of other people’s lives. The Peace Ambassadors programme, by Professor Brian Williams, came into my life at the right time. Prof Brian visited me in hospital and at my home.
My loving grandparents (Fagmieda and Shafiek Samuels) raised me from the time that I was very little. They have been there for me every step of the way, even when I was hospitalised. They made it their mission to be by my side every day which made me stronger day by day. My parents are divorced. My mom, Badronessa, and dad, Riyaan, both want me to complete my studies. My father was understandably very angry when I was shot, but agreed to respect my wishes and not do anything.
Growing up in Hanover Park, which is a real war zone, is kind of hard. But I actually did not expect to be shot, even though violence is there all the time. I just never thought about being a victim of a shooting. I lost two close friends while on my journey to matric, through violence. Many others have been killed in my community.
My recovery was hard at times, but I pulled through the pain, not just physically, but emotionally as well.
I had sleepless nights where the thought of what happened that day kept me up all night, but now I am nearly halfway recovered because injuries like those I sustained would be healed from the outside but would take much longer to heal from the inside.
My principal, Mr Tony Adamson, has done enough for me through my schooling years at Groenvlei. I love all my teachers, but if I had to choose, I would choose Ms Rukaya Conrad, who is the most loving but sometimes strict teacher.
My school friends, and especially my fellow Peace Ambassadors, have been amazing and supportive. I know they are writing examinations at the moment and I wish them all well.
Peace is actually the only thing that comes to mind when I now think of the outside world and my community. All I want is peace and to share peace messages. Peace helps students to better not just their lives, but the lives of those they help while completing the ambassador projects. The programme as a whole teaches you teamwork and how to get through tough times. Actually, you do not even realise how much you really learn when you are in the programme which is so easy, and yet profound.
My plans are to complete my high school career and further my studies, and also to be an inspiration to all kids in my community and other communities.
I do not have any anger or hatred towards the person who shot me. But he must be accountable for what he has done. I think that if he received peace ambassador training, I am sure that his choices would have been different.
He is in custody and will probably never come out of prison. What a tragedy that a young life is wasted. There are so many young people who have guns and access to guns in our communities.
Hopelessness and negativity surround us, and it is easy to make a bad choice. People who are in bad circumstances want to feel important. Having a gun makes some people feel powerful.
Guns are instruments of violence, and there is violence everywhere.
This terrible experience has changed my life. I am more committed than ever before to develop myself to become a champion of peace.
I want to become a great Peace Ambassador and help to spread peace and to stop the violence in our communities.
God has given me a chance to show that peace is the answer and not war or violence.