Slinger’s inspiring story
SHANDRE SLINGER is a gold award holder of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Young People, known in South Africa as The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment (TPA).
She completed the award programme while working at Case (Community Action towards a Safer Environment) in Hanover Park, Cape Town.
She was determined to overcome challenges and not allow negative peer pressure to pull her down. Here is her story: “I was four years old when my mother died. My sister was seven and my brother was only four months old,” she begins.
“After my mother’s death, we moved to Hanover Park. As a young woman growing up in Hanover Park, I was exposed to many negative things such as gangsterism, teenage pregnancy, abusive men and women, people disrespecting one other.
“That motivated me to become someone better and to focus on my dreams.”
Slinger’s advice to youth: “Always try and look at things in a positive way, as there are doors that you never knew existed that can open for you.”
In her own life she said, “Growing up with a single parent was never easy. We could see how my father was struggling emotionally.
“During my schooling years, I was always described as being different. I never did what other pupils did and I never allowed myself to be influenced by their activities. I guess that’s how my father raised me. I was a very private and shy person.”
Since she started The President’s Award (TPA) programme through her former job, everything changed, she said.
“Hanover Park is filled with talented and intelligent people, but poverty-minded people are overpowering the community.
“I chose not to be included with the poverty-minded people, but to do something about it and break the cycle.”
That’s how she got involved with TPA and other organisations to come up with solutions, she said.
“The award allowed me to interact with diverse people and enabled me to believe in myself.
“It helped me build my confidence and self-esteem, and it also helped me find my purpose in life. The award opened doors for me; finding a sponsor for my first flight to Johannesburg to receive my Gold Award from HRH Prince Edward. That for me was an outstanding moment because I was selected to deliver my testimony at the ceremony.”
She only worked seven months at the Salesian Institute Youth Projects as an administrative assistant and got promoted to be a developer administrator.
“That is a huge stepping stone in my career. There are more opportunities in the award that is awaiting me. I’m prepared to grab them with both hands, that’s how eager and optimistic TPA made me.
“My advice to other young people growing up in challenging circumstances is to pray to God for strength. Do not be too hasty to move out of your community, because your community needs youth like us to change it. We are the future.”
At the end of May, Slinger’s dad’s informal house burnt down and the family lost most of their possessions.
In the same week, Slinger was selected to represent TPA at an International Gold Event with gold award holders from around the world, scheduled to take place in Prague in October this year.
Any person wishing to contribute to her family or her trip to Prague can contact The President’s Award.
TPA is a registered nonprofit organisation with Public Benefit Organisation status and is registered with Sars.
For more information, or to enrol, volunteer or support TPA contact 046 622 7273 or info@ presidentsaward.co.za.