Youth show commitment

Gallery Update Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The Mossel Bay junior town councillors rolled up their sleeves shortly after their election in March this year and embarked on their first outreach.

They spent April raising funds and collecting donations for the Leolan Academy. The school caters for learners with special needs, including learners with autism. April is Autism Awareness Month. This motivated the JTC project.

Before embarking on their campaign, the councillors first did a needs assessment to ascertain where help was most needed.

Councillors, representing all the local high schools in Mossel Bay, campaigned for donations at their schools and sold blue ribbons, which they made themselves.

Blue represents autism awareness. The ribbons sold like hot cakes within the first week. Ribbons were also made available to members of the public. Donations were received in partnership with the Mossel Bay Advertiser's Oliver Twist Community Project.

Watch a video below:

A list of these necessities was provided by Leolan. Donations were dropped at the school last week Thursday, 27 May. During their monthly meeting on Tuesday, 1 June the councillors handed an amount of just under R8 000 to a representative of the school.

Photo gallery: Junior Town Council concludes first outreach

Principal of the school Yolandi Botha welcomed the donation.

"I have long since been so pleasantly surprised by a group of high school learners.

"Not only did they impress with their excellent manners, thoughtfulness and empathy, but their professionalism. Apart from blessing us with this donation, they gave me so much hope for our society and our country. I take my hat off to them. Well done to our JTC. I hope that one day, some of you may also be councillors to lead our town," Botha said.

Yolande van Aswegen (municipal Youth coordinator), JTC executive committee members, Ethan-John Carstens, Eileen Swanepoel, Yolandi Botha (Leolan Academy), Quinlynn Kannemeyer and Riaan Cilliers, both from the JTC executive committee, after the handover.

Junior deputy mayor Ethan-John Carstens and speaker Riaan Cillers unloading the food donations.

Executive committee members of the JTC, Ethan-John Carstens, Eileen Swanepoel, Riaan Cilliers and Quinlynn Kannemeyer with Yolande van Aswegen from the Youth Desk, Mossel Bay Municipality.