Last Saturday, youth at Ntonga convened for the second life-skills course. This meeting connected youth in a circle of sharing. To my excitement, the number of students attending doubled from the first session. With a confident facilitator, each class encourages youth to share feelings and thoughts and interact with one another.
This week the course focused on defining the words life and skills. Sam asked each student to contribute his/her thoughts. Hearing their answers inspired me. Honesty, understanding right from wrong, and knowing what and who you are were some ideas presented. While many youth taking this course are using drugs and some are involved in local gangs, their ability to acknowledge and formulate their own opinion on what “life” means to them, is central to making real change.
Sam defined skills as, having a mode of self-expression. For youth dedicated to learning an instrument their discipline and focus at the school is central to their life success! With a skill, youth are on the path towards self-agency.
Youth seek role models to inspire them. When asked to share my thoughts I reminded each student, that they are ultimately the agents of their own destiny. It is too easy to fall victim to the streets in an environment where opportunity is sorely lacking. I therefore feel tremendously grateful to help facilitate this course. It is a step in the right direction inspiring and empowering youth at the source of the problem.
Stay tuned, Ntonga.
To return to PFCF main page or make a donation, click on the below link:
www.playingforchange.org
No comments:
Post a Comment