As charity begins in the home, some would say that people in the social services should uplift society starting with the very communities they come from.

As charity begins in the home, some would say that people in the social services should uplift society starting with the very communities they come from.

Former Mary Waters High pupil Bulelwa Mgqobele, currently a fourth-year student studying social work at Fort Hare University, returned to her old school this week to lend her skills to the town that raised her.

Addressing the entire school on Monday morning, she wanted to inform pupils and teachers about their rights and the upcoming Child Protection Week (starting on 27 May).

With the help of her former life orientation teacher, Brenda Kuskus, Mgqobele also organised a few guest speakers to enrich the event.

Speaking to Grocott's Mail afterwards, Mgqobele explained that she organised the event as one of the requirements for her fourth-year course.

As a former Mary Waters pupil she said knew the kinds of problems young people faced in the area, and chose to focus on "issues like teenage pregnancy and learners not being fully aware of their rights".

Proud of the kind of role model Mgqobele had become for other Mary Waters pupils, Kuskus said that she was happy with how the event turned out and expressed admiration for Mgqobele.

Besides educational talks by Martha Thompson (child welfare), Jeremy Ruiters (intern psychologist at Rhodes University) and school volunteer Remano Brooks, the programme included the recital of a short poem by pupils Simamnkele Peter, Shoalin Redemeyer and Naomi Leeuskieter.

Mgqobele said she was extremely pleased with how the event turned out.

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