By Sestina Shabalala and Khayakazi Tshapile, Noweto Record August 28 2015
Kgomotso Children Centre in Soshanguve has launched a project it believes will raise awareness about the problems uniquely faced by adolescent girls.
Called the Kgomotso Girls for Success, the project is the brainchild of centre founder Kgomotso Senauwa who said: „I started this organisation because of the sad and painful childhood accompanied by struggle, suffering and sexual abuse that I experienced.“
She said her organisation had also collected toiletries such as sanitary towels, soap and deodorants which will be donated to the girls.
Nthabiseng Nyalungo (20), one of the girls from Kgomotso Children Centre, said they were taught many activities such as drama and music to keep them out of trouble.
She said the centre needed more donations fo drinking water, as the municipal supply was interrupted, food to feed the girls in its care and toiletries.
Senauwa said when she founded the centre, there had only been eight youths who came regularly and that number has grown to more than 100 girls and boys ranging in age from four to 20.
The centre operates from a small shack offered for free. It started under a tree.
„The girls come from different backgrounds... some from abusive families, others from disadvantaged families,“ said Senauwa.
Motivational speaker Lesego Gololo who attended the launch of Kgomotso Girls of Success said she had been sexually abused more than once but the help she received had made her a better person and improved her self-esteem.
„The trauma never stopped me from pursuing my dreams,“ said Gololo.
Gololo encouraged girls to love themselves for who they were and not what the media or society portrayed them to be.
