Grade 12 girls from Zandvliet High and Macassar Secondary schools attended a youth empowerment day at Zandvliet High this past Saturday (10 September).
Geraldine Pillay, a former learner of Zandvliet High and South African sprinter, hosted the event. She made a name for herself when winning a gold medal in the 200 m and bronze in the 100 m at the 2004 African Championships.
“There is a big world out there,” Pillay told the girls. “There are opportunities out there waiting for you. You just have to go out and grab these opportunities.”
She started hosting these events in her home town a couple of years ago, with the aim of empowering youths.
The event was attended by various women role-models who also gave the young women advice on how to follow their dreams.
Peter Helfrich, Ward 109 councillor, also attended and praised Pillay’s work in the community.
“I didn’t have a home when young and had to sleep on the streets, he recalled. “But let me tell you, there are people like Geraldine who took me into their homes and guided me. People who advance tend to leave Macassar quickly and never look back, but Geraldine made a name for herself and is giving back by being involved in the community.”
Pillay also focused on the importance of taking care of oneself. “I also liked boys when I was at Zandvliet High, but I focused on myself and my sport. I put myself first. This is what you should do.”
Charlene Davids of Fit for a Queen was the first speaker on the day and held a wellness session for the young lasses.
“I want you to know this morning that I am not speaking to an ordinary girl,” she said. “I am speaking to future leaders of this nation, women who will be in the hot seats in parliament, ladies who will occupy every mountain of society.”
Davids urged the youths to focus on their careers first and their marriageability only afterwards: “I want you to imagine an expensive matric-ball dress, to see all of the work that went into it. The measurements were taken before the dress was made. Then imagine a cheap dress made by someone who never made a dress before. You can see how beautiful the first dress is and the second dress is cheap and nasty. I want you to be like the first dress.”
Boxing coach Mari Niemann held a self-defence demo against attackers and getting out of dangerous situations.
Pillay also held a question-and-answer session afterwards.
