Alex youth say no to gun violence
ALEXANDRA – Alex youth plot to silence the guns.
Alex youth marked 2019 Youth Day through a partnership with Gun Free South Africa and others against gun-related violence.
This according to the NPO which in a statement commemorating the day said, “Seventy per cent of youth in Alex are affected by gun violence.”
This said in a dialogue at Alex FM Radio Station where Wits psychology students, Children’s Radio Foundation and high school learners explored solutions to the problem they said was also perpetrated by the youth. Other topics included health and masculinity.
The initiative was also part of the station’s Bigger than Life show in which Tumi Tsheola of the NPO said, “The youth are made aware of the risks of involving themselves in gun violence in their community where they are easy targets for joining gangs because of peer pressure and lack of options for opportunities to develop skills or pass time after school.”
Mary Ann Nobele of Gun Free South Africa added, “A lot of young people feel lost and alone and we believe that gathering and speaking to them about contributors to gun violence will help us find solutions that can work in Alex.”
The Wits students presented on the effects of trauma to young people from the daily exposure to gun violence.
The following methods were recommended to reduce gun violence:
- More visible policing in Alexandra
- Anonymous phone line to report gun violence and illegal guns to the police station
- Police to do more stop-and-search operations
- Advocating for more gun-free zones in the community.
Contact: maryann@gfsa.org.za tumitsheola97@gmail.com
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