By Thato Mgoma
Tsoga Mocha, a youth organisation in Kimberley held a reunion prayer session for reforming drug addicts at the Seochwareng circle in Galeshewe a fortnight ago in a bid to reconcile them with their parents and society.
The prayer session was held under the theme: “‘A journey of forgiveness and healing”’. In attendance were many local youth some of whom were accompanied by concerned parents and community members who sought help for their charges.
During the course of the anti-drug deliberations at the Galeshewe circle it emerged that most of the young people who are drug addicts are persons who have qualifications and skills. These skills include fashion designing, electrical engineering, carpentry and trade handy work.
The youth affected and impacted by drugs expressed that substances is robbing them of a great future but they also let it be known that they were willing to change their lives for the better.
Some of the drug users told the audience how they started taking drugs after their parents died. Although there are many reasons why people take drugs, chief among them are peer pressure which is a strong factor and seems to play one of the biggest roles in destroying the lives of young, innocent persons.
One of the addicts said that he grew up in a very comfortable home and had access to many of the things that he needed. He said his mother still loved him a lot and he wanted to fix their relationship.
A young girl among the addicts said that she wants to change her life and quit drugs as she has a three-year old toddler that she wants to raise. “I even went to jail because of drugs,” said Mamotse (not her real name).
She said she has a fashion designing talent and wants to put it to good use. There was also a testimony from a guardian who said she lives with four children who are all addicted to drugs. She was praying that they quit saying drug abuse affects families negatively and ruins relationships. She also said that the actions of parents could sometimes also push their charges to taking drugs. She pleaded that parents must treat children equally and make their homes a good environment to live in.
A pastor shared how he quit smoking cigarettes when he was young. He said the best way to stop smoking was to not be around people who did so as it was very easy to be tempted. He told the youth that he was aware that it was not easy but that it was possible. He prayed for the youth to get the strength and willingness to start their journey of quitting drugs.
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