NWPL WOMEN’S CAUCUS AND CWP COMMEMORATE WOMEN’S DAY WITH A CALL TO INVEST IN THE DIGNITY AND FUTURE OF CHILDREN

The North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, led by the Chairperson and Chief Whip of the Legislature, Hon. Motlalepula Rosho, in partnership with the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), commemorated Women’s Day by engaging with young people at the Rustenburg Child and Youth Care Centre in Boitekong, Rustenburg Local Municipality.

The programme was held under the theme, “Resilient Women, Inclusive Parliaments: Investing in the Voices, Dignity and Future of Our Children.” The Women’s Caucus invited partners, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Standard Bank, to support the initiative.

The engagement sought to provide support, encouragement and mentorship to young people at the centre, while reaffirming their dignity, value and place within society. Addressing the young people, Hon. Rosho emphasised that the visit was about more than simply fulfilling a parliamentary responsibility, but about demonstrating care and solidarity with young people who face difficult circumstances.

“We are here today not merely as Members of the Legislature, but in the spirit of parents. We want you to know that you are valued, that you matter and that your circumstances do not define your future. We want to encourage you to believe in yourselves, pursue your dreams and understand that there is a place for you in our communities and in our society,” said Hon. Rosho. She further commended the Centre Manager, nurses, social workers and the Department of Social Development for their continued dedication to the care, protection and rehabilitation of young people at the facility.

“The work being done here requires commitment, patience and compassion. We appreciate the Centre Manager, the nurses, social workers and the Department of Social Development for standing in the gap and ensuring that these young people receive the support they need. As the Legislature, we have a responsibility to support such institutions and to ensure that the voices of children and young people are not ignored,” she said.

The programme included a mentorship and motivational session facilitated by Ms Mashadi Mooketsane of White House Rehab Clinic, who emphasised the importance of creating safe environments where children can express themselves openly and feel heard. Ms Mooketsane encouraged parents, caregivers and communities to listen to children, provide appropriate guidance and protect their fundamental rights, including access to shelter, nutrition and healthcare.

One of the teenagers at the centre shared a reflection on the role of the facility in helping young people rebuild their lives.
“This place gives us an opportunity to reflect, rediscover ourselves and rebuild our confidence. It gives us a chance to think about who we want to become,” said the teenager.
Meanwhile, the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Madoda Sambatha, encouraged the young people to acquire agricultural skills while at the centre, describing agriculture as an important avenue towards self-reliance and preparation for life beyond the facility.

“We want these young people to leave this centre with skills that they can use to build independent and productive lives. Agriculture provides opportunities for young people to become self-reliant, and we want to expose them to those opportunities while they are still here,” said Hon. Sambatha. He further committed the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to supporting the centre through the provision of weekly egg supplies, seeds as required and fruit trees.

The Department will also support the establishment and maintenance of a vegetable garden at the centre. The garden is envisaged not only as a source of fresh produce for the young people, but also as a potential income-generating initiative, with surplus produce sold to the surrounding community to contribute towards the sustainability of the facility.

“Our support must go beyond today’s event. We are committing ourselves to practical interventions that can make a lasting difference. The vegetable garden, fruit trees, seeds and weekly eggs are some of the ways in which we can contribute to the wellbeing of the young people while also helping the centre to become more sustainable,” said Hon. Sambatha. The Centre Manager, Ms Mirriam Kgafela, expressed appreciation to the Legislature, Standard Bank and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for their support and commitment to the wellbeing of the young people.

Standard Bank donated personalised bags and notebooks to the young people, while the Legislature donated furniture for use by the centre’s staff.

Hon. Tebogo Modise, Chair of Chairs of the Legislature, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to ensuring that the undertakings made during the engagement translate into tangible outcomes.
“Today’s commitments cannot end with the conclusion of this programme. As the Legislature, we will continue to monitor the undertakings made by stakeholders and conduct follow-up visits to assess progress. Our responsibility is to ensure that commitments made in the presence of these young people are implemented and that the necessary support reaches the centre,” said Hon. Modise.

He added that the Legislature would continue strengthening collaboration with government departments, private-sector partners and other stakeholders to address the needs identified at the centre. The NWPL Multi-Party Women’s Caucus and the CWP reaffirmed that the commemoration of Women’s Day must extend beyond symbolic celebrations and contribute towards building inclusive communities where women, children and young people are protected, heard and given opportunities to realise their full potential.

The Legislature further called on all stakeholders to work collectively to create supportive environments that protect the dignity and rights of children and equip young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities required to become active and productive members of society.

Ends

Issued on behalf of the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) and NWPL Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, Hon. Motlalepula Rosho.
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