Dr Tshepo Motsepe, the wife of Mr Ramaphosa, is the keynote speaker at this event. Dr Motsepe says that the well-known statistics require that we all take urgent action to enable our children and youth to have positive experiences whilst growing up. Meaningful interventions, such as the Health, Sanitation and Sexual Education Programme, would have far-reaching benefits in the lives of our future citizens.
"It is a privilege for me to join the honoured guests, learners, educators and parents, at Ndukwenhle High School, and to be involved with this programme launch," said Dr Motsepe. "I sincerely urge you all to participate to the maximum in order to make the most of the opportunities to discuss important challenges and concerns that you might have."
This new pilot programme, which is funded by supporters of Adopt-a-School Foundation, was developed to address the urgent need to focus on the challenges faced by high school learners in their puberty years. It also aims to educate and empower youth in South Africa to take responsibility to curb teenage pregnancy.
Participants will learn how to identify and manage the physical, hormonal and psychological changes that they will experience. This programme also provides a forum for the discussion of sensitive topics such as sex, sexuality and the prevention of STIs - including HIV and Aids. Awareness is also created about general health and hygiene.
20 other secondary schools, from various rural and township communities throughout South Africa, will also form part of this pilot programme - which will take place over the next two years. The two other schools in KZN are Inhlakanipho High School (KwaMashu) and Hlahlindlela Secondary School (KwaNgcolosi).
The health and well-being of learners is an integral part of Adopt-a-School Foundation's Whole School Development (WSD) model, which seeks to address school infrastructure development, curriculum and co-curricular needs, leadership and governance and social welfare in the school environment.
Ndukwenhle High School has already benefitted, from WSD, through strategic planning, leadership and management, team-building and motivational interventions as well as assistance with social welfare issues - with appreciation to Grindrod as the school's adopter.
"At Ndukwenhle, everyone is very happy to be included in the Whole School Development processes of Adopt-a-School Foundation," commented Principal, Mr Nkosinathi Shandu. "We are already working in a more organised way and we are able to discuss the daily challenges that we face as educators, parents and learners."
