Junior Council empowers Boy learners
The boys in City of Johannesburg’s Student Council recently conducted a campaign at Constitution Hill in Hillbrow, focusing on the “boy child”.
The Student Council is made up of about 90 pupils from 48 high schools, representing a mix of religious, private, and public institutions.
This programme is a legacy initiative in the office of the Speaker of Council. The primary objectives of the Student Council are to raise awareness among pupils about civic responsibility, foster leadership development and skills, and encourage an interest in their communities and the city they live in. The programme goes beyond academics and aims to prepare these students for their future roles as active citizens and leaders in their communities.
The City of Johannesburg’s Brenda Andrews, who manages junior councillors, said the importance of starting these programmes while pupils are in school is to enable them to become active citizens with knowledge about their communities.
The City of Joburg seeks to create a new generation of young leaders who are well-informed about civic issues, the functions of local government and the structures in place.
During the campaign, John Dlamini from the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) discussed the dangers of drug addiction and its impact on mental health.
He encouraged the boys to seek assistance from SANCA.
Guest speaker Itumeleng Mohanoe, who is Mr South Africa 2023 and a former junior councillor now associated with the Khulisani Foundation as a coach, touched on the importance of acquiring the skills and tools young people need to excel in their studies.
His foundation focuses on leadership development, public speaking, creative and critical thinking, collaboration and citizenship.
Junior Council Mayor Cllr Arabile Maphiri acknowledged the role of such programmes in the lives of young men.
He said boys often face challenges in their journey to adulthood and expressed appreciation for the government’s efforts to provide development programmes for the boy child.
