Confronting the Dragon

How did Daryn Jones, our social worker, get 15 of our learners to volunteer to be trained by SANCA as peer counselors at School of Hope?

Photo by Masixole Feni

“In April the School of Hope had a focus week: Drug Education and Awareness. A survey that was conducted at the School of Hope revealed that the majority of students have witnessed adult family members using drugs in front of them. Those learners who have tried using drugs or are still currently using drugs, did so for the first time before they were 15 years old. The most common drugs identified in the survey were Methamphetamine (Tik), Heroine (Unga) and Marijuana (Dagga).

Adolescence is a significant period where there is rapid development between childhood and adulthood, involving complex cognitive development. The prefrontal cortex is mainly responsible for this development. It allows a teenager to be able to start thinking in more of an abstract manner, using a wider perspective of understanding and reasoning. The thoughts, ideas and concepts developed during this period greatly influence the type of adult the adolescent will become. A study conducted in 2012 by the University of Cape Town and the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa titled ‘Brain imaging illuminates the impact of addictive drugs on the brain’,  found that Heroin, Tik and alcohol are all responsible for the reduction of cell development in the prefrontal cortex. This means that drugs can damage or impair the part of the brain responsible for social and moral functioning of an individual.

In order to educate and create awareness about the impact of drugs and alcohol the school hosted two guest speakers who are recovering addicts to share their life story with the students. The students hung on their every word, often relating many of the life events and situations that were shared back into their own lives in the Cape Flats community.

Then SANCA (South African National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence) came to the school and educated the students about the physical and psychological effects of using drugs and spoke about how using Tik has been a variable linked directly to the increase of contracting HIV due to the physiological effects the drug has on a person.

Drug Education Week ended with 15 of our students volunteering to be trained by SANCA as peer counselors in their school. This means they will be able to pick up the signs and symptoms of their peers who may be using or abusing drugs. They will be able to do informal counseling and know how to communicate drug information to their peers as well as how they can go about accessing the relevant treatment.

School of Hope will also be having NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meetings once a week where students who are affected by drugs can share anonymously in a group and receive support and counseling related directly to the various affects drugs can have on an individual, a family and a community.”

(Daryn Jones)

March News

A new face at School of Hope and Thandeka starts the next phase of her journey

Daryn Jones (social worker) has only been working at School of Hope since March 1st, but already she has made herself indispensible. What were we doing without her? She is always on the go, thinking of new ways to add value to the school and to offer the learners a better service. She organised an outstanding Career Week, launching the career development programme with great enthusiasm. Says Daryn of her new role: "This is a very challenging position but i feel inspired and passionate about it. I know I will learn a lot from the learners at the School of Hope."

Thandeka Deda's inspiring story has been the subject of this blog before. This time last year she travelled to Sweden on an exchange programme. Later in 2012, she was named as School of Hope's Valedictorian and received a R20 000 bursary to further studies of her choice. Today she is making her dreams a reality. This month she started tuition at Hugenot College in Worcester, studying Auxillary Social Work.

She joins many others who have gone on to tersiary studies: Lunga Mdingi, is in his final year at Damelin College, studying Business. Khumbula Mdende perseveres at Cornerstone Institute, now in his third year, studying Community Development. Kirsten Cupido is in her second year at Chefs and Hospitality Skills Academy. Fatimah Santon has settled into her studies at Stellenbosch University.

We are equally proud of our working alumni, Nigel Prins working at the Boca West Country Club in Florida, USA, Thoriq Taylor at the Mount Nelson, Dawood Van Der Fort at Pick&Pay, Masakhane Mdende at Aubergines Restaurant, Manhino Dias, co-owner of Shack Records and Meghan Martin at American Swiss.

On Saturday morning I was pleasantly surprised to bump into Bianca Moyakhe who matriculated in 2011. She has been working at Cape Union Mart since mid-2012 and has recently been transferred to the branch in my neighbourhood! I caught her in the act, in front of the camping gear on display at the Bayside Centre!

Watching our learners graduate is a joy in itself, but seeing them make a success of their lives beyond School of Hope is the real reward for the hard working teachers and staff at School of Hope . They make us so proud!