#Traiblazer Impact – Class of 2020
Teens With Vision: Neo Cholo and Letlhogonolo Phora
School: Ribane Laka High School
Province: Gauteng
Community Action Project Issue: Poverty and Social Development
Neo Cholo and Letlhogonolo are Trailblazers from Ribane Laka High School in Mamelodi East. They have highlighted that their experience in the Trailblazer Program has been great. Being part of the Program has motivated them to see young people as part of the change in their communities. One of the critical lessons that they learned from being in the Program is that we all need to contribute as human beings to bring the desired change in our communities. They now believe that it doesn’t matter where one comes from but their perspective towards life and how they influence change. Before being part of the Trailblazer Program, they believed that teachers and the government are the people who have to develop and bring change to the community. But being a Trailblazer has totally shifted their mindset.
Through the Trailblazer Program, Neo and Letlhogonolo’s perspective on what young people can do in their communities changed. They now believe in the power of young people, as they have seen how the ideas they shared during the workshops have contributed to more significant ideas and projects. Their passion for community development was ignited by being part of the enke Trailblazer program. This also encouraged them to motivate their peers to sign up because they felt the Program brought a significant change in their lives. Neo highlighted that he feels he has been equipped with essential skills to be a leader and bring about the much-needed change in his community. These skills include communication, identifying social capital, and starting and mobilising resources for a social project.
Neo and Letlhogonolo’s Community Action Project (CAP) was called “TEENS WITH VISION” and focused on community development. The CAP tackled poverty and other social ills that have been exacerbated by COVID-19 (such as people not having access to basic needs). The CAP aims to create a platform where young people can develop themselves and, in return, contribute to the development of their community. The “TEENS WITH VISION” project has benefited 150 people since it started through donating sanitary towels, face masks, sanitisers and food. Neo and Letlhogonolo hope to reach out to more Trailblazers and other young people in their school to join them in continuing their project. They, as young people, can contribute to bringing change.
