Heartlines Leadership Workshop in Far East Rand Deanery
Photo: Kati Dijane
By Kati Dijane – Over 30 young people in the far east rand deanery were empowered with leadership tools through a workshop on July 14 at St Lambert, one of the four parishes in Daveyton in Benoni. The workshop was hosted by Heartlines, an NGO that has been helping address some of the issues facing society since 2006, especially through educational films, including Beyond the River, Hopeville and Nothing for Mahala.
Among a number of stakeholders that the NGO engages with, the church is one of its biggest places where it equips communities with the knowledge and tools to live lives that are based on positive values. Coffee was not the only thing that warmed and invigorated the youth present in the morning, but also icebreakers and engaging conversations.
Some of the topics discussed during the day were: What’s your story, where Fana Ndlovu, one of the coordinators of the NGO, explained how authentic stories brought a sense of unity, relevancy and inspiration among leaders and the people they serve. Values and money, where Tshepo Sitole, another coordinator, shared how the way one earns, treats and spends money reflects the things they value, and Fathers Matter, quite a thorny subject in the South African context. Ndlovu shared that over 60% of children in the country grow up without a father, citing a social breakdown as one of many reasons. He also added that they aimed to celebrate present fathers and bring awareness of the importance of fatherhood in the development of children and the restoration of societal ills.
The four-hour event was fun and enlightening according to some young people who were present. The youth leaders represented at the workshop were from St Mother Teresa in Crystal Park, St Paul in Tsakane, Seven Holy Founders in Ratanda, St Joseph in Actonville and St Anthony Pucci in Duduza parishes.
