When I came to Afrika Tikkun’s Wings of Life Centre I was just accompanying a friend and then I became fascinated by the services they offered. What captured my attention the most was the academic support that the centre provides as well as its social life. These can be overwhelming to any teenager and it becomes difficult to balance the two.
Like most other teens out there I had begun to crack under pressure, and I took my frustrations out on other pupils. This earned me the reputation of being a trouble maker and a bully. I hurt other children to make myself feel better.
I lost everyone around me, as people became scared of me. It became lonely but instead of stopping this behaviour I felt trapped inside myself and carried on. I longed for someone who would hear my silent cries from within for help.
Eventually it was Afrika Tikkun’s social worker Mr Makwena Ramoroka, who saved the day for me.
“Bonolo Satekge you are great, and can be the greatest you can ever be without making someone feel small,” said the social worker. Those words hit home, I knew I had to change!
“Bonolo Satekge you are great, and can be the greatest you can ever be without making someone feel small,” said the social worker. Those words hit home, I knew I had to change!
After a couple of sessions with the social worker, I realised I needed to open up about the challenges that I face and that I did not have to pull down others to make myself feel better or important.
Despite my bad track record, Tikkun kept faith in me becoming a better person one day and they sent me to a leadership camp. It was at this camp that I learnt that I need to channel my negative energy towards a positive endeavour and from that time, my life has never been the same again.
My drive to make a difference is inspired by a quote by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who said, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor
If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” Upon our return from the leadership camp, I signed up to be a Young Urban Woman (YUW) and AV Buddies, the support groups that fight against the person I was, a bully.
AV Buddies and Young Urban Women are support groups that refuse to watch an elephant put its foot on the mouse’s tail.
Siyamemeza basizwe! (We shout to be heard)
My life has transformed drastically socially as I can relate to other people better, and academically, I am now among the crème de la crème. My newly found positivity continues to attract more positive things in my life, and I am now part of the Student Representation Committee (SRC). When I am feeling down or in need of a pick me up, I dance or play football at Tikkun, and it is through my involvement in a lot more activities that I am becoming a better person and a great leader.
My dream is to become an Air Traffic controller, I do not even want to imagine what I would have been like at the job, if I was still the bully I used to be.
Imagine me arguing with a pilot who has hundreds of lives in his hands? You as person can still change. Tikkun will be there with you every step of the way. I am the living proof of the wonders of their programmes.
NOTE: Many teenagers like Bonolo face challenges that they are unable to speak about and as a result, they act out of character, for Bonolo, her situation changed as she received guidance. That she followed that advice and took the opportunity, is why Afrika Tikkun is so proud of her.