Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation
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Thaba Nchu, Free State<br />
Moroka High School Hall, Thaba Nchu, Free State: November 17, 2007<br />
Qwaqwa and Botshabelo are small but densely<br />
populated areas, with low levels of employment.<br />
Poverty leads youngsters to desperate acts of escapism<br />
and self-destruction. Young people are <strong>in</strong> such<br />
denial that when the 150 young people attend<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
dialogue session were asked if they knew any <strong>in</strong>fected<br />
people <strong>in</strong> their community, fewer than a handful put<br />
up their hands.<br />
dialogue<br />
summary:<br />
Thaba Nchu<br />
Attendance<br />
289 people were <strong>in</strong><br />
attendance.<br />
Summary<br />
The community<br />
dialogue session was<br />
facilitated by Lesley<br />
Nkosi. In the <strong>in</strong>itial<br />
stages of the dialogue<br />
session, it seemed as<br />
if people had been<br />
<strong>in</strong>structed not to<br />
talk. After a few icebreakers,<br />
the floor was<br />
opened to comments<br />
and questions. The<br />
youth said that young<br />
girls deliberately fall<br />
pregnant <strong>in</strong> order<br />
to access the R400 A view of Thaba Nchu.<br />
a month child-care<br />
grants paid by the government. Young people do not support other young people’s <strong>in</strong>itiatives to<br />
create HIV and AIDS awareness. As a result of this, there are no youth organisations <strong>in</strong> the area.<br />
Parents and other adults stigmatise <strong>in</strong>fected people and curse their actions, say<strong>in</strong>g they deserved<br />
it. Young people will not publicly admit they are <strong>in</strong>fected. Young men don’t test their HIV status,<br />
but rather try to f<strong>in</strong>d out through their partners’ results. In the group <strong>in</strong>terviews, a more <strong>in</strong>timate<br />
account of the youth’s challenges came out. Poverty was highlighted as the ma<strong>in</strong> cause of youth<br />
becom<strong>in</strong>g vulnerable.<br />
Commitments<br />
◊ Keneilwe, 17, says she will go out to the taverns with posters she will make and get the youth<br />
out of taverns and away from shop corners, and back <strong>in</strong>to the community. She will get them to talk<br />
and act.<br />
◊ Other young people have vowed to get tested and know their status.<br />
◊ Others will support those <strong>in</strong>fected and affected.<br />
18 YOUTH IN DIALOGUE