Le ibiyinyanga yovuyisana nolutsha nootata (this month we celebrated both Youth Month & Father’s Day

Le ibiyinyanga yovuyisana nolutsha nootata (this month we celebrated both Youth Month and Father’s Day). I think it’s always good to look at the past and learn from it.

It’s equally important to celebrate what is and then to dream about what the future could look like.

The June 16 1976 uprising that began in Soweto and spread throughout the country profoundly changed the socio-political landscape in South Africa. This was a hard time in our history, a time when we saw the youth of South Africa standing up for what would change their future, showing us how they wanted to take charge of their lives. They did not allow the government to decide their futures for them. 

Today our young people have some degree of hope and change and yet many of our youth in the townships still do not have as many opportunities as those who come from affluent areas. This is part of why we do the work we do at Beautiful Gate along with other NGOs where we seek to bridge this gap. We would like to see true equality for our youth, be it academically, psycho-socially, economically, and in safety. Things are still not what they should be.

We would like to think that the work we do brings a small change systematically. What we want to create is a place where our young people get to dream of a better future for themselves, their families, their community, and their country so that they can participate globally.

We are also aware that most of our young and older men play a key role in the lives of our youth, where they become role models to many of our kids at Beautiful Gate. Sithi siyabulelela kakhulu kuni botata base BG ngendima eniyidlalyo ebantwaneni base BG (we thank you, BG men, for the role that you play in our learners' lives). You are a light in our community.  Psalm 103:13 says "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him".

In the light of the tragic death of the 21 children in the Eastern Cape, we would like to offer our condolences to their families and friends. Again, things like these should not be happening in our times. May their souls rest in peace.

On the 3rd of June 2022, we had a Child Protection Event which was hosted by our Family Strengthening Team. This was during Child Protection Week which focuses on raising awareness on the rights of children as articulated in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa and Children's Act (Act No. 38 of 2005). Our Family Strengthening Team supports families and ensures that children are cared for and that their communities are safe. The event was aimed at educating and reminding our children of their rights and when to know they are being violated and actions to take in the event of violation. 

Everyone supported the child protection event by wearing a green ribbon which symbolises life and growth. There were also speakers who covered a variety of topics from abuse, violence, neglect, and some possible solutions to those challenges. Overall, the event was filled with excitement where some of the learners performed poetry, dance and music pieces. 

The Dignity Campaign, which exists to impact lives and restore dignity by equipping people through training, awareness and life skills programmes, recently facilitated a workshop with a group of our staff who works directly with the children in our community. The purpose of the workshop was for our staff to get trained in how to facilitate some of the Dignity workshops with the children in our programmes. Some of the topics covered were on identity and belonging with a paper doll activity (where the emphasis was that we are all created by God - we have similarities and differences), purpose, menstrual management, etc. The staff also learned some great energisers/ice-breakers that they can do with the girls and boys they work with. Other topics covered included the development of the teenage brain, GBV, sex and human trafficking.

Our director, Minah Koela, attended the Tirzah Global Leader Gathering in Portugal earlier this month, where 27 global leaders came together to strategise, dream and plan for a brighter future for all women and girls worldwide. This conference was specifically designed to educate each other on what each leader has learned works best, highlighting the wisdom of each woman to create new programmes and initiatives centred on sustainability, micro-enterprise and development. The women shared stories and challenges, laughed and cried, talked about self-care, sourced solutions and danced - a lot! Our director spoke about sustainability in development and the work that we do at Beautiful Gate. We're so grateful to have been represented in such a space and we're excited to see some of the fruits of the gathering in our community.

South Africa’s national holiday, Youth Day, commemorates the Soweto Youth Uprising which took place on June 16 1976 and it is celebrated annually on that day. Our Sophiatown/Vintage themed Youth Day celebration took place on the 24th of June. We invited both our primary school and high school learners to honour them as young people and as learners. The learners came prepared for the event and participated in a variety of performances to express their appreciation for what the youth of 1976 achieved for them in terms of their education, to express their dissatisfaction with the inequality that still exists in the South African education sector and country at large, and to express their gratitude to Beautiful Gate for providing them with the opportunity and platform to observe and celebrate Youth Day appropriately. The performances included a tutor dance that demonstrated how the youth of the '70s used to dance, a high school play that illustrated what the youth of '76 were doing during the protest, singing and poetry praising the courage and bravery of the youth of '76.

We’re currently seeking donations of clothing, household items and appliances, bedding, accessories, gently used undergarments and pyjamas, beauty items and books. Any men’s, women’s and children’s items are welcome. Items can be dropped off at the Charity Shop on our premises between Tuesday-Friday from 10:30am-4:00pm.

The global Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic will have far-reaching health, social, economic and educational effects in the months and years to come. Here in South Africa, many businesses are suffering due to its ramifications. As such, it is at times like these that we rely on our committed, monthly donors to help us weather the storm. If you are not yet a monthly donor, please consider joining our Hope Club.

Hope is our Super Power! What's yours?

The Hope Club is a community of people who have pledged to invest in the hope that our community has. Become part of a family of givers, a league of heroes who are committed to bringing change and transformation in our community. Become a monthly giver, and receive a monthly Super Story in return.
 
If you're ready JOIN THE HOPE CLUB, click the link below! If you need more information, email us at: marketing@beautifulgate.org.