Masithethe Counselling services is providing mental health care to pupils through a six-month programme that employs local social work and psychology graduates to practice at schools across Buffalo City.
The programme has been running since June and concludes in November.
Small Projects Fund is funding the program and it employs 30 participants who were selected out of 400 applicants. They then received training and were sent to schools across the city to offer counselling and self-development services to pupils.
Small Projects Fund director, Paul Cromhout, said the aim was to give the participants an opportunity to earn a stipend, gain work experience and references for their CVs.
The theoretical training covered aspects such as anti-bullying, study skills, Good Touch, Bad Touch, addiction and personal growth.
Masithethe director, Jackie Orsmond, said: “Where the culture of bullying is festering we find many pupils have suicidal thoughts, and gambling is rife, especially in this era of internet culture. Children’s gullibility and naivety makes them particularly vulnerable and so we covered these areas of concern in our training with the participants.”
The participants have since been dispatched to schools such as Buffalo Flats Primary, Aspiranza Primary, Beaconhurst Primary, Stirling High and Cambridge High.
Ayabonga Nkohliso, one of the programme’s participants said: “It has been really good, also seeing the challenges learners are facing. The good is that I am making a difference by being there for the pupils and the challenges are that there are not enough counsellors as the need is overwhelming.
“Learners are facing problems such as bullying, anxiety, depression, witnessing gender-based violence.
“A lot of learners are raising themselves, have learning challenges, are addicted to drugs, feeling lonely, having thoughts of suicide.”
Orsmond said schools did not give enough attention to the psycho-social wellness of pupils, and encouraged school governing bodies to prioritise the appointment of counsellors.
