Skhokele Torheni, a Grade 10 learner from Diazville High School, was recently selected as Junior Speaker of the Saldanha Bay Youth Council.
Torheni says in his new position as Junior Speaker he looks forward to working alongside his colleagues in fighting issues that give the Saldanha Bay Municipality and schools in the area a bad reputation. Ready to serve the youth of the West Coast, Torheni says he wants to focus on issues such as learners dropping out of school, drugs and gender-based violence in order to provide a safe learning environment.
As for being Junior Speaker it came as a surprise to Torheni as he first started out as a Representative Council of Learners secretary at school and never thought he would fulfil this position. “My speeches seemed to be touching others as they saw me as a persuasive person who had a vision for the Western Cape schools. I then got approached by Mrs Boys who is one of my mentors at school. Mrs Boys said she wants me to be a nominee for the junior youth council and since I am an opportunistic person I said yes and then ran for Junior Speaker.
With the role as Junior Speaker comes challenges, says Torheni. “Stage fright was my weakness, but I have found ways to counter it by taking deep breaths and focusing on my speech and visualising success.” Receiving support from his parents and friends, Torheni has a good support system behind him.
Torheni wants to encourage the youth with his motto: try and fail, but never fail to try. He says their scars should be a source of strength.
