Young people from Philippi and the surrounding areas converged at Philippi Village on Saturday 18 March to learn about human rights.
The gathering was organised by Rev MS Lugongolo Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NPO) that aims to empower young boys and men while creating a platform for them to share their problems.
Several organisations including the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), Scalabrini Centre, Mosaic, Cesvi Foundation and Nyanga police officers attended the event.
Rev Mawande Lugongolo, the foundation founder and leader of the United Methodist Church, described the gathering as a platform to engage with young people about their challenges. He said they aim to establish daily challenges encountered by youth in communities.
“We gave them an opportunity to raise their concerns. Part of their concerns was a perceived lack of equality between males and females. They also felt that their voices, as young people, were suppressed by the adults,” said Lugongolo.
He said they previously held events at schools and the gathering was the first of its kind for the foundation.
“We used to visit schools. So, we decided to gather them in one place and have one session with them. Our intention was for them to work together and also share ideas,” said Lugongolo.
He said they plan to host a similar event with parents and their children.
Leonard Macakati, provincial Public Education and information officer for CGE, stated that the aim was to promote human rights, a platform to raise awareness among teachers while teaching learners about their rights.
“We call on both genders to get equal rights. There mustn’t be anyone who is above the others. Sometimes you’ll find that there is indirect discrimination where a certain gender can do certain things but another gender cannot,” he said.
Macakati appealed to learners to respect each other and stop bullying.
“There is a tendency among learners to discriminate against each other based on gender, background, physical condition, etc. Females must stop feeling inferior to their male counterparts. If a woman has feelings for another man, she has a right to propose to him,” he stated.
Const Nandisa Mpengesi, from the police’s social crime prevention at Nyanga Police Station, said they encouraged participants to stand tall and not allow anyone to tell them what to do about their lives. She said they also motivated them to work beyond their abilities.
“We encouraged them not to lose hope. We told them they could be anything they wanted to be in life. They must believe in themselves,” she said, urging them to avoid shortcuts. She also cautioned them against the use of drugs and gangsterism.
Olwethu Xhentsa (16) from Lower Crossroads described the event as educational. He said he learned a lot.
“What touched me the most was when we talked about bullying. I was one of the victims in my area a few years ago when other children called me ‘Blacky or Gweja’ because I was too dark. I used to stay indoors because I didn’t want to associate myself with other children,” explained Olwethu.
However, he said her mother’s support made him a better person. He urged his peers to stop judging other kids.