Princeton High learner Rochey Cupido was appointed Lentegeur Police Station’s new Junior Commissioner last week.
The 13-year-old, who has just started high school, said she was encouraged to apply for the role by her class teacher.
After applying Rochey, from Eastridge, was called to the station with several other learners from various schools. The learners all gave speeches on the challenges the youth of their generation face.
“I went there and told them what I want to do for my school,” she told TygerBurger. “I told them children are really struggling with their confidence.” The panel Rochey spoke to was made up of community-policing forum (CPF) members and police.
The member of her school’s Representative Council of Learners (RCL) also told the panel one of the biggest challenges learners faced is peer pressure.
Based on the learners’ speeches, and interviews conducted by the panel, Rochey was chosen as the best candidate for the role, Lentegeur CPF chair Michael Jacobs said.
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He said she was the best candidate because: “She is highly intelligent, very informed about issues facing young people and a comfortable public speaker.”
“As a CPF we are glad that young people are showing a willingness to be involved in promoting a positive lifestyle among youth. The Police Junior Commissioner project was initiated in 2007 in South Africa. It is a youth-empowerment programme designed to involve young people in crime prevention, mentorship and leadership development. The learners are appointed to promote school safety, engage in anti-crime campaigns and act as campaigners against substance abuse and bullying. We wish our junior station commissioner and the other commissioners well in the supportive roles they play.”
Rochey said she is both nervous and excited about the role. She said candidates were told the position was necessary because youth had more influence over their peers.
“They said they chose young learners because the youth won’t listen to old people.”
Lentegeur Police Sstation spokesperson Const Navon van Houten said the Junior Commissioner would be a voice for students, represent their ideas and help bridge the gap between pupils and authority figures. The Junior Commissioner also promotes discipline by being a good role-model and keeps an ear to the ground for pupils who are struggling, either socially and emotionally. Rochey would also be required to act as a peer mediator and liaison. Jacobs said: “I wish her the best and as a CPF we will work closely with her and give her the necessary support. We want to thank the outgoing Junior Commissioner for her work during her term and wish her very well in her matric year.”
