Storytelling community at Rocky Crest

Gabby Tjiroze
Erica Mangel

On the 22 June, a storytelling community gathered with some boys at Rocky Crest High School.

The boys were fortunate to receive this wonderful opportunity, to open up and tell their stories to people they can trust and who were there to motivate them.

The goals for the gathering were to build connections and deepen understanding among participants, while enjoying shared values and purpose and strengthening communities by raising awareness about violence.

Donald Kariseb, one of the members of the storytelling community, inspired the boys with his story of how he went from being an average learner that failed his grade 10 to become the best debater in the country.

The boys got a chance to exchange stories with each other, without any judgment among themselves.

The storytelling community was also very successful in terms of raising awareness about violence.

The idea behind the campaign is to look at violence in general and why people tend to be violent. In addition, it was also raises awareness about different types of violence.

Most people are bullies or act violently because they were abused when they were children and because parents never gave them attention, so they become involved in violence to escape from the problems they have at home.

Bullying can lead to school dropouts, health problems, depression, anxiety and trauma that eventually leads to suicide.

Try and seek help, by reporting when you are being bullied. Speak to someone you can trust. The storytelling community encouraged the boys to open up and tell their stories, because when we speak out, it is easier to cope. I believe that after the campaign, the boys really felt relieved and happy that they got a chance to share their stories.

*Erica Mangel is a learner at Rocky Crest High School.