A 14-year-old wheelchair-bound girl from Mdantsane was named Eastern Cape’s children’s ambassador, at a children’s parliament sitting in Cape Town last week.Asisipho Peter, a Grade 8 pupil at Vukuhambe Special School in Mdantsane, said it was an exciting chapter in her life.
“I have always seen myself as a leader; I’m not afraid of speaking my mind and even before the elections I sort of had the feeling that I would be nominated because the other children told me what a lovely personality I have and how well I speak,” said Asisipho.
She said the trip to parliament had been an eye-opener and taught her a lot about the struggles within communities.
“I plan to start a group, involving my schoolmates, children from my church and the community, to discuss matters affecting us as young people and what we can do to overcome them,” she said.
Lumka Oliphant, communication manager for the Department of Social Development, said the children’s parliament was hosted by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) in partnership with the department and the national parliament.
Each province is represented by 12 child parliamentarians aged between 11 and 17.
NMCF’s Bontle Lekgoathi who is the coordinator of the children’s parliament said the idea of electing child ambassadors was a way of empowering young people and teaching them responsibility.
“Their core duties will be to work with organisations within their communities and identify projects which they can champion and be involved in,” she said. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: Mdantsane girl elected ambassador
“I have always seen myself as a leader; I’m not afraid of speaking my mind and even before the elections I sort of had the feeling that I would be nominated because the other children told me what a lovely personality I have and how well I speak,” said Asisipho.
She said the trip to parliament had been an eye-opener and taught her a lot about the struggles within communities.
“I plan to start a group, involving my schoolmates, children from my church and the community, to discuss matters affecting us as young people and what we can do to overcome them,” she said.
Lumka Oliphant, communication manager for the Department of Social Development, said the children’s parliament was hosted by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) in partnership with the department and the national parliament.
Each province is represented by 12 child parliamentarians aged between 11 and 17.
NMCF’s Bontle Lekgoathi who is the coordinator of the children’s parliament said the idea of electing child ambassadors was a way of empowering young people and teaching them responsibility.
“Their core duties will be to work with organisations within their communities and identify projects which they can champion and be involved in,” she said. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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