Novuka’s support gives WSU youth timely boost
Author-counsellor’s HIV, sex education initiative brings students hope
A love for empowering and educating youth is the driving force behind author and HIV counsellor Ndzuzo Novuka’s support programme at the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Potsdam campus.
Novuka, who was born and raised in Mdantsane, chose to work as a counsellor because of his “love for young people” and the lack of sex education in rural areas of the Eastern Cape.
He said many of the students on the Potsdam campus were from rural areas such as Mpondoland where discussions about sex and contraception are considered taboo.
The counsellor said this meant many young people entered university life without any background in sex education, which could cause issues down the line.
“So I teach them about these things. Teaching these students about these things [STDs and safe sex] is like teaching the whole of the Eastern Cape, because they will go back to their communities with this knowledge and in turn be able to teach others,” said Novuka.
He also strives to fight genderbased violence, heading up WSU’s Men-in-Action programme, which educates men about sexual responsibilities like getting tested regularly and the correct treatment of their partners.
He insists that for women in SA to have “total liberation”, men need to be educated about the injustices that confront women and to become empathetic. “If men are empowered Mdantsane and perseveres to [through education] women make a success of their life.
will be safer,” said Novuka. “It is a novel which says to In another attempt to inspire people stop crying and blaming youth, Novuka has written a others. Stand up and take control book titled uMenzi, which of your life regardless of roughly translates to “The Doer”, your background,” said Novuka. and emphasises self-belief
and hard work through the He said that the book could story of someone who is born in be obtained by contacting him, but he was trying to find a way to make the book easily available to people from all walks of life.
“We expect a lot of young people but do not give them the education or chances they need. If we neglect the youth we will have problems. It is crucial to empower them,” said Novuka.