Bokang Mofoka
RIVERSIDE International School has stepped up efforts to combat drug abuse among young people by organising a five-kilometre awareness walk to educate learners, parents and the wider community about the dangers of substance abuse.
The event, held yesterday, brought together learners, parents, teachers and other community members for a walk that started at the school near Maseru Mall, proceeded to Pioneer Mall and ended back at the school.
The walk was followed by physical fitness activities involving both children and adults, giving families an opportunity to engage in healthy recreational activities while supporting the school’s anti-drug campaign.
Through the initiative, Riverside International School sought to encourage open conversations about drug abuse and reinforce the message that protecting children from substance abuse is a shared responsibility.
Riverside International School principal, Anne Marie Strydom, said the initiative was prompted by growing concerns about drug abuse in schools, particularly following reports of police discovering drugs on school premises.
Strydom said the reports had prompted the school to take a proactive approach by raising awareness and bringing together various stakeholders to address the problem before it escalated.
She said the school had invited experts in drug-related matters to educate learners and parents about substance abuse, its dangers and its impact on young people’s lives.
“We wanted to bring experts who could educate our children and parents about drugs and the dangers associated with substance abuse. It is important that everyone understands this problem and knows how to respond to it,” Ms Strydom said.
She said the event was also intended to reassure parents and the wider community that Riverside International School was committed to providing a safe environment in which children could learn and develop without exposure to drug-related problems.
“Our school is a safe space for children. We are doing everything possible to ensure that drug abuse does not become a problem in our school,” she said.
However, Ms Strydom acknowledged that schools could not tackle substance abuse in isolation, emphasising the need for cooperation among parents, children, educational institutions and relevant government departments.
She said addressing the problem required a collective effort, with parents playing a critical role in guiding their children and remaining actively involved in their lives.
“Drug abuse is a serious challenge that requires us to work together. Parents, children and all relevant stakeholders must join hands because we cannot overcome this problem working separately,” she said.
Meanwhile, parent Nthatisi Mafisa commended the school for organising the awareness campaign and involving parents in discussions about an issue that increasingly demands attention at family and community level.
Ms Mafisa said the event provided an important opportunity for parents to reflect on their responsibilities, particularly when it came to monitoring their children’s spending habits and understanding their social activities.
She said parents sometimes gave children excessive amounts of pocket money without adequately considering how it would be spent.
“As parents, sometimes we make mistakes by giving our children too much money for pocket money. We need to understand that children do not necessarily need large amounts of money. We should give them what is reasonable and appropriate for their needs,” Ms Mafisa said.
She also stressed the importance of developing better parenting skills and making time for children, warning that a lack of parental involvement could leave young people vulnerable to negative influences.
According to Ms Mafisa, some young people may turn to drugs because they associate substance use with entertainment, particularly when they lack parental guidance or opportunities to participate in alternative recreational activities.
She said parents should encourage their children to explore healthier ways of spending their free time rather than allowing them to believe that drugs were the only means of having fun.
“We need to equip ourselves with the skills to raise our children properly. Sometimes we do not make enough time for them, yet we expect them to make good decisions. Young people must understand that drugs are not entertainment; there are many other healthy ways of enjoying themselves,” she said.
Ms Mafisa urged parents to take a more active interest in their children’s upbringing by getting to know their friends, understanding their interests and creating an environment in which they feel comfortable discussing the challenges they face.