Generation of Leaders Discovered (GOLD) held a workshop at Sikwahlane Secondary School on Sat-urday 6 March with grade 10 learners.

The GOLD team, run in conjunction with Thembalethu Home Based Care in Schoemansdal, has been imple-mented in multiple schools throughout Nkomazi in February 2009.

GOLD member Zakhele Zita explained that in the frst year of the program grade 9 learners selected their classmates as role models. The selected individuals received extensive training in a vari-ety of life skills. In the second year the learners, now in grade 10, are tasked to use these learned skills in a more practical way. The grade 10 learners are now senior peer educators, while the GOLD team has recruited another grade 9 group as the junior peer edu- cators. The purpose of the program is to create leaders and promote positive behavior whether at school, home or in the community.

“The programme has helped us a lot because they give us ways at which we can be successful in life. We believe that now because of the knowledge we have gained, we have the tools to allow us to have a bright future.

Not only us as we attend here, but with our fellow friends and classmates that will listen to us when we teach them as tasked,” said Prescillia Mpika from Sikwahlane Secondary School.

“Since we started attending GOLD lessons, teenage pregnancy has decreased in our school, more especially in grade 10 where the GOLD team educates,” con- cluded Prescilla.

“The programs have helped me a lot because I used to be naughty, but since the GOLD sessions I have changed,” said Lawrence Moyila from Indlagem-abala Secondary School in Block A, another school that GOLD works with. Lawrence also explained that he now knows how to help other children with-out birth certifcates and other issues by referring them to the relevant people.