- A non-profit organization, Amathunzi Arts, partnered with traditional healers and health professionals to educate learners at Bulumko High School about cultural heritage, mental health, and sexual education, highlighting the importance of knowing their roots and avoiding early sexual activity.
- Traditional healer Thokozani Sibiya encouraged learners to prioritize their education, respect their heritage, and avoid cohabiting at a young age.
- Health promotion officer Nomabhelu Sopili advised learners to delay sexual activity until they are mentally fit and strong and emphasizing the importance of using protection and respecting their bodies.
Sexual education and mental health took centre stage at Bulumko High School on Friday 26 July as learners delved into some of the taboo topics in the academic calender.
“We are here to educate the learners about the importance of knowing their cultures, heritage and mental health,” said Babalwa Mantjies, the founder of Amathunzi Arts.
“Our children are adopting western culture because of peer pressure and sometimes engaging in sexual intercourse at an early age which all lead to mental health issues like depression, anxiety and stress”.
Amathunzi is a non profit organisation (NPO) based in Khayelitsha.
They work closely with the community and local schools to empower or assist learners with whatever they need.
The NPO partnered with traditional healers and health professionals from the City of Cape Town to empower the learners and to interrogate subjects outside their academic scope.
Mantjies described the event as part of instilling discipline.
The event also encouraged young people not to forget their roots.
She said young people have deserted their culture and adopted with western culture.
According to her, traditional healers were there to enlighten learners about their role in society and to encourage them to be proud of their heritage.
Thokozani Sibiya, a traditional healer from Harare, urged learners to prioritise their books. “Being a sangoma is not a demon, but is a calling. We need to respect each other’s beliefs. When you accept the calling, you don’t have to drop out from school. Continue studying! We don’t need illiterate sangomas,” he said.
Sibiya stated that their job is to connect people with their forefathers. He urged the learners to stop cohabiting from a young age.
“Being iphara on the streets won’t assist you to achieve your goals. Amaphara won’t last,” said Sibiya.
Nomabhelu Sopili, who is a health promotion officer from the City’s Health Department, advised learners not to engage in sex at an early age. “Everything has its own time. Stop chasing girls or boys at a young age. You need to be mentally fit and strong before you start dating,” said Sopili, adding that dating is for mature people.
She stated that a lot of things that affect children and can change their behaviour including divorce, peer pressure, dating and stress can have an impact on their self-esteem.
“Taking drugs can cause schizophrenia sometimes. That is when we end-up accusing our grannies of witchcraft. Dating has a nice feeling but sometimes it has bad outcomes,” said Sopili. She urged those who could not resist temptation to use condoms.
She urged the learners to use protection all the time when they are going to have sexual intercourse.
Grade 9 learner Lihle Mbovane (14) described the event as educational. He praised the event organisers for coming up with such ideas. “I learnt a lot about how we must conduct ourselves. Also, we were encouraged to know our roots,” he said.
Mbovane said people have a right to practice whatever religion without prejudice.
Teacher Boitumelo Motse-Barnes also praised the event and the speakers.
“It is much better when someone comes from outside to speak to the learners because they listen. As school teachers, we are not going deeper when we talk about these topics because we are guided by curriculum. We are not fully informed about some of the things that were shared by our speakers,” said Motse-Barnes, adding that some learners would change their perception that they have about certain things.
