Pupils urged to speak out against abuse

Children must speak out about abuse, a church youth leader told Heideveld Senior Secondary pupils last week

Estwynn Malgas and others from Father’s House church spoke about gender violence as well as bullying and violence at school and at home.

It was important for schools to have pupil representative councils that could help at-risk pupils, he said.

“It’s like today violence has become a norm and we must change that,” he said.

The church also staged a play about alcohol addiction and violence against women and children.

Mr Malgas said it was important for pupils to know that they could report abuse at home to their teachers.

Joy Petersen, of Heideveld spoke to the pupils about the importance of speaking out about abuse and violence. In the play, she played the part of a mother being abused by her husband.

The play was meant to show the pupils that they were not alone and they should report abuse, she said.

“They must know that they are not alone, that they don’t need to remain caught up in that, and they don’t need to become like that or remain the victim. We see so many kids become gangsters or drug addicts because they reach out to the negative, but they don’t need to do that. There is help out there for them,” she said.