With the country’s general elections happening next year, Active Change Drivers (ACD) is playing its part to ensure young people are fully informed and ready to make their mark.
The non-profit organisation (NPO), based at the Philippi Village, is capacitating young people with skills and education for them to be independent and better future citizens. It also trains youth and empowers them about their rights.
On Saturday 14 October, the NPO hosted one of two sessions where young people were taught about the importance of active citizenry.
ACD facilitator Mercy Dube said the aim is to engage and educate the youth about the importance of being active citizens and to have their voices heard.
“We are equipping them to be the change they want to see in their communities. We want them to get involved or participate in community activities or programmes. We want them to be in charge of their lives to make their decisions. We are also educating them about the importance of voting because we believe that the majority of them do not care about the elections. Their perception is that they (elections) have nothing to do with them,” explained Dube.
She said ACD also educates the youth about the municipal processes when lodging a complaint or needing certain information.
“We want them to follow the processes before they go on the streets to protest. Some of them don’t even know how to lodge a complaint when they have a problem with a burst drain or water problem. These are basic things. The protest must be a last resort,” she said.
Dube said they work with children from 16 years old upwards.
Ezintle Rhali (16), one of the attendees from Madikizela informal settlement in Lower Crossroads, described the event as informative.
She admitted to caring less about voting. She said the session changed her mindset about life in general.
“Although I am underage to vote I had already lost hope in our leaders. Looking at how the country is and how the people talk about our government made me lose interest in voting. But, because of the information that I received here, it revived my spirit,” said Rhali.
Rhali labelled youth as future leaders and urged them to take the opportunities at their disposal and utilise them wisely.