Youth in action for a better tomorrow, Camp Sizanani, Johannesburg, South Africa
Creators of Peace was called to provide training to nine volunteers in their early twenties, from the 1st – 3rd June 2016. We were requested to capacitate and nurture them in mentoring by first understanding themselves and what they can give the juniors and their peers they train and care for during camps and at the youth club.
June is Youth Month in South Africa – a time during which we all pay tribute to the school pupils who lost their lives during the 16 June 1976 uprising in Soweto. As this year marked the 40th Anniversary, the government had a drive calling the month ‘youth moving South Africa forward.’ One of the special ways the Creators of Peace team celebrated the month was answering a call from the Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) named Camp Sizanani, founded as a joint venture between HIVSA and Global Camps Africa to serve the youth with life skills through camps and Saturday youth clubs.
“The Art of Listening”, “What builds and what destroys Peace” and “Inner Peace and Forgiveness” were the modules we had extensive talks on. They felt this gathering points challenged a lot of their already set life standards and perspective. Rethabile shared, “I am appreciative of the awareness this programme has offered me, because I lead my life as 'my way or the highway.' I blocked people because my pain told me I know all about life. Little did I know there is more to learn about life, even more about myself.”
These young people, like many in South Africa, shine out and serve their communities in the best way they can despite growing up with challenges such as broken homes, being orphans, poverty, single parenting, social rejection, abuse and lack of opportunities for growth. However Peace Circles created a space to calm down and to reflect. It encourages them to face their fears and aim to be reputable leaders of a greater South Africa in the near future.
One of the participants created a slogan ‘absolutely 100%’. This expressed how much the participants were energized by day three to continue serving their communities through camps and being educated so that they continuously enhance what they feed the younger generation.
Grateful for the collaborative work with Camp Sizanani, and for Initiatives of Change South Africa and Edmee Botteron for the support and encouragement given to the work of Creators of Peace.
Reported by Cleo Mohlaodi and Portia Mosia