Programme to uplift, aid youth

SEVENTEEN schools attended the Tsholomnqa Child and Youth Safeguarding Programme (TCYSP) launch at, Tsholomnqa High School, just outside East London, on Friday.

The programme, which aims to educate the youth on the dangers of drug abuse, was started by Yeyisa – an organisation that tackles issues facing disadvantaged youth.

The programme was launched to reduce social ills like teenage pregnancy and substance abuse while educating about the dangers of HIV/Aids and related conditions.

Yeyisa founder Busisiwe Ntozini said the programme was established to inspire young people to believe in their dreams and aspire to a better future and life.

Yeyisa looks into issues facing the youth, such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy.

“As Yeyisa, we found that young people in Tsholomnqa are violent because of drug and alcohol abuse. This affects schooling – we see this in the grade 12 pass rate which dropped ridiculously last year,” Ntozini said.

“The programme is ongoing and by next year we are looking into doing it again.”

Tsholomnqa consists of a total of 23 schools with two high schools and 21 primary schools.

Tsholomnqa High School principal Mphikeleli Botomani highlighted the high level of drugs and alcohol abuse among pupils as one of the challenges the school is facing.

“We are a big school with 812 pupils and only 18 classrooms. Another challenge the school is facing, is that we are still using pit toilets,” he said.

Miss Eastern Cape Nomthandazo Shange spoke to pupils at the launch, encouraging them to set themselves short- and long-term goals in order to achieve their dreams.

“The programme also aims to ensure that pupils are inspired to take personal responsibility for their education and sexuality,” Ntozini said.

“It also encourages them to inspire young people to be active participants in the fight against the HIV/Aids pandemic and risk factors which make young people vulnerable to early pregnancy and drug and substance abuse,” she concluded.

The departments of health and social development, the SAPS, Zanoncedo Empowerment, Eastern Cape Liquor Board, Isibindi, as well as the Small Projects Foundation was among the organisations that acted as the key speakers at the programme launch.