By Slovo Dyira
About 70 learners from different Makhanda secondary schools gathered at Nombulelo High School in Joza on 18 March to participate in an Ikamva Youth empowerment programme.
The Amen Goy, known as TAG, is “passionate about all aspects of the spiritual and individual journey of women and youth in the township and rural areas,” the organisation says.
The Amen Goy’s Nolubabalo Makana and Unathi Yili coordinated the event, which was filled with poetry and singing by the former members of the Ikamva Youth programme.
The topic for the day was “self-mastery”, with keynote speaker Makana talking on the issues of mindset, imagination, and declaration.
“If you were to ask any successful person how they had made it, they would say they were focused despite what came their way. Your environment doesn’t matter, but start thinking positively,” Makana said.”
“Your environment doesn’t matter but start thinking positively”
Nolubabalo Makana
“If you want to be successful, you must eliminate certain things in your life. Nursing your weaknesses, such as being shy, will never take you anywhere. It’s all about believing in yourself,” Makana added.
In her interaction with the students, she asked them what they wanted to do after finishing school. The learners did not hold back, with Sibonokuhle Zozile saying he wanted to become Chief Justice to fix the corruption happening in the world.
Ikamva Youth tutor Sindisiwe Stamper also spoke on health awareness and the importance of self-hygiene. “Discipline starts at home before you go anywhere else,” she said, encouraging the learners.
Discipline starts at home before you go anywhere else
Sindisiwe Stamper
The learners then participated in a competition, where they were given ten different topics and asked to discuss these and come up with solutions. Group Five were the lucky winners of R100 each, presenting on how to change the lives of the youth, performing their own drama about a young person who was introduced to drugs, became addicted, and then underwent therapy and rehabilitation.
The event closed with a group photo and TikTok dancing challenge.
