On October 3, the Salaam Foundation team headed to Protea South to take part in a learner outreach at the Protea South Secondary School.
The programme was hosted by the Protea South Secondary School and put together by the City of Johannesburg councillor Nofemela Nokuthula and the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA). One hundred learners from the surrounding schools who had been identified were chosen to be part of the programme.
Salaam Foundation provided dignity packs and a warm lunch to the students from the generous contribution of SF donors. The dignity packs which were put together by Salaam Foundation volunteers the previous week consisted of important supplies for the teenagers.
The programme started with the councillor Nofemela Nokuthula addressing the learners. Nokuthula told the learners the programme was a way for the community to show they cared about the young people and their futures. There was a special focus on educating the learners about the various harms and ills present in the community and teaching them how to avoid them.
A counsellor from SANCA which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to addressing issues related to alcoholism and drug dependence through prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programmes, explained to the learners about the harms of drugs and how they should do everything they can to avoid taking drugs and substance abuse. The engaging manner of the talk drew the children and they were very interested in listening and receiving the information.
The Protea South informal settlement community is one that faces many challenges. In April 2024, the police fatally shot a man they suspected of selling alcohol. This led to community protests and ensuing violence in the community resulting in the torching of a police van and a protest. Poverty, unemployment and crime are huge obstacles for the community and the youth especially.
Substance abuse as a result of the obstacles faced is another big problem for young people in particular. The talks by the counsellor from SANCA and the local clinic was meant to educate the learners and also provide a space for them to be heard and to answer any questions they might have.
In his address to the learners, Salaam Foundation’s director Azhar Vadi spoke to them about the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) as someone who faced many challenges and saw many social ills in his community but worked to better his community and society despite those challenges. Vadi encouraged them to follow this example and stressed on the importance of striving to become leaders despite trying circumstances.
“You have the opportunities to be the leaders of the world – each and every one of you.”
