Youngsters taking the lead in community service
On Thursday last week, the Executive Mayor of the Overstrand, Aid Dudley Coetzee hosted the ceremonial inauguration of the 2019 Junior Town Council (JTC).
All six High Schools in the Overstrand are represented on the 35-member JTC. Nominated by their schools for their leadership potential, they spend a year sharpening skills like communication, interpersonal relationships, public speaking, teamwork, planning and problem solving, and most importantly, serving the community of the Overstrand by means of a variety of needs-based projects.
The Junior Town Council is a project of the Overstrand Municipality and is managed by the Enlighten Education Trust. During their year in office, they will be given an insight into all the projects run by the Municipality, including fire services, management of the beaches, environmental protection, recreation, and waste management, amongst others. One of the most important principles they will need to understand is that leadership comes with a responsibility to serve others.
A highlight of the year is undoubtedly the weekend camp they attend in January where they get to know one another and plan their community interventions for the year. Some of them will be conducted as a full council, others will be smaller projects organised by the representatives of each school.
Enlighten’s JTC Manager, Unity Mtomile is excited about the new group, led by Junior Mayor, Claudia Weich (Northcliff House) and Deputy Mayors, Daniel du Toit (Gansbaai Academia) and Dominique Geduld (Hawston Secondary).
As Unity says, “Each group has its own dynamic and it’s always fascinating to see how the individual members develop during the year. Sometimes, it’s the least likely who grow most, ending the year as absolute stars. But the most rewarding aspect for me is to see how seriously they take their roles as servants of their communities, developing genuine compassion, empathy and understanding of those in need.”
The 2019 Junior Councillors are: Elsari Strauss, Kyle Philander, Cara Janse van Vuuren, Martinique Poole, Misha Horn,Tokyo Seconna and Maia Bellingan from Hermanus High School; Aden Farao, Dominique Geduld (Junior Deputy Mayor), Griffon Damon, Herschelle Burns, Keesha Davids, Mihlali Saula and Edwin Fortuin from Hawston Secondary School; Sinokuhle Zwinye, Zintle Mshede, Nosiviwe Matikinca,Someleze Sithethe, Thabani Mahlangu, lyamangalisa Cako and Asonge Ntlali from Qhayiya Secondary School; Levis Lewis, Zainabo Anzurani, Daniel Du Toit (Junior Deputy Mayor), Renaldo Dickson, Martale Jacobs and Lerato Hermanus from Gansbaai Academia; Ravick Black, Lara du Plessis, Claudia Weich (Junior Mayor) and Vera-Marie Viljoen from Northcliff House College; and Lupho Hoyi, Michaela Delany,ZoeTheron andTiah Stannius from Curro Hermanus.