Organisation celebrates nearly a decade of empowering youth
According to communications officer Hellen Motau, the aim of the organisation is to inspire the youth towards academic excellence, positive life choices, and a holistic vision for their future.
Motau was speaking at their annual Achievers Walk.
She said over the past nine years, the organisation has transformed the lives of over 1 000 young people.
'More than 40 previously unemployed graduates have benefited from skills development programmes and financial academic assistance.'
She said beneficiaries are nurtured through programmes that instil leadership skills, discipline, and self-confidence.
'Additionally, we have extended our support to two primary schools in Atteridgeville by renovating school toilets and contributing to the construction of new classrooms,' she said.
She said that at the core of the initiative is academic support for local young people, led by university students and educators.
'We recognise that academic success is not independent of a learner's social environment. Our holistic approach addresses the broader challenges affecting young people by providing school uniforms and educational support.'
She said that by providing these essential needs, they want to ensure that no child feels excluded due to financial constraints and that intensive tutoring sessions enhance their beneficiaries' school performance.
Motau said the organisation is managed by youth co-ordinators, called rangers, who are previously unemployed graduates. They are now gaining valuable skills through their hands-on experience in various qualifications.
'This opportunity serves as a stepping stone for the rangers until they secure long-term employment,' she said.
She added that through community outreach, they provide toiletries and monthly hampers to vulnerable families, as well as counselling services for children and families in need.
Beyond academics, the organisation cultivates well-rounded individuals by offering extracurricular activities such as sports, board games, contemporary and traditional dance, arts, and drum majorettes.
Motau said the first employee of SCI, Onthatile Mokoena, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity she received as an unemployed graduate.
Mokoena underscored the importance of programmes that instil positive values in children from vulnerable backgrounds.
Thato Kokela (19), a second-year student at UJ, said that the programme has been instrumental to her success, saying she joined the programme when she was in Grade 7 and has since found herself a family.
'Having access to free tutors in this economy is highly unlikely, but they made it possible.
'What made it even more special was having people who would check up on our mental health, checking up on how we were doing, asking about our exams, and showing genuine care,' she said.
She said the support she received from SCI was not only about her academics but also her well-being. 'That support system made a huge difference.'
ALSO READ: Waterkloof break-in suspect due in docks
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Abbott: Special session may address warnings after deadly Texas floods
AUSTIN (KXAN) — State lawmakers could soon be back at the Capitol considering better warnings for floods in Texas. Just days after the Guadalupe River rushed over its banks and killed dozens in Kerr County, Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed to reporters a looming special session will focus on this critical issue. '(It's) the way to respond to what happened in Kerrville,' Abbott said during a Sunday press conference at the State Emergency Operations Center in Austin. Following the end of the regular session in May, Abbott announced he would call lawmakers back on July 21. It is unclear if that special session will include any flood-related topics; those could be reserved for a subsequent special session. In 2023, Abbott called four special sessions, which can only tackle issues the governor outlines. Abbott's initial agenda for the upcoming special session includes regulating THC, human trafficking and title theft, among other items. Special sessions may last up to 30 days but can end sooner. Accompanying the governor during the Sunday news conference, Texas Department of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said, 'Just sending the message is not the same as receiving the message.' 'We need to educate the public about what to do when they get the notifications,' Kidd added, referencing weather warnings and how remote areas – like rural Kerr County – might not have had access to cell phone notifications or NOAA radio broadcasts. Regarding National Weather Service forecast timing, communication and the possible impact of federal funding cuts to the agency, Abbott said he knew 'nothing about the staffing.' KXAN has reported the local NWS office, which covers Kerr County, currently has six vacancies among its 26 positions, some of which are meteorologists. The NWS and TDEM have not responded directly to KXAN about those numbers yet. Federal forecast concerns surface in Texas' deadly flooding debate 'We need to spend a lot of time trying to answer this question,' Kidd indicated, speaking generally about a further review of warnings preceding the deadly flood. When KXAN asked Abbott if a recently-failed bill to assist local governments with acquiring emergency communications equipment – like sirens – would re-emerge, he replied, 'It's going to be something that will be looked at (in the special session).' KXAN first reported House Bill 13 – which would not have been in effect until Sept. 1, had it passed – aimed to create a council to operate a grant program for that purpose. It would have developed a statewide strategic plan that included 'the use of outdoor warning sirens.' The council would have also been asked to 'develop and implement, as advisable, emergency alert systems and incorporate as necessary communication technologies into the emergency communications network of this state.' One of the bill's authors, Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, told KXAN the issue should be added to the call for the 'coming special session.' 'I joint authored HB 13 because this is an area of public safety that needs significant and immediate attention,' Moody said in an emailed statement Sunday. 'The absolute last thing we can afford is to do nothing. We should be exploring all avenues and turning that into concrete policy now.' The bill stalled in the Senate Finance Committee where it was never brought up for a hearing. It did, however, pass the full House 129-18 on final reading. Among those voting against the measure was Rep. Wes Virdell, R-Brady, who represents Kerr County in the legislature. KXAN has reached out to Virdell for comment but has not received a response. KXAN's media partner, The Texas Tribune, reported Sunday that Virdell — who has been with the area first responders searching for victims and survivors over the weekend — said he would have decided differently based on his recent experience. 'I can tell you in hindsight,' he told the outlet, 'watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now.' At a Friday news conference, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said he 'can't answer' why camps along the river – where many of the deaths occurred – weren't evacuated but acknowledged: 'We do not have a warning system.' The next day, a online petition launched, 'urgently' calling for Kerrville and Kerr County to implement an outdoor early warning siren system for life-threatening emergencies, like flooding. By Sunday, the petition had more than 200 signatures. Kerrville didn't have weather sirens used by other cities Outdoor weather alert systems are not required by any federal or state law. The choice is left up to local leaders. Sirens are typically activated by city or county officials, according to the NWS. Cities that use sirens, like San Marcos — which has 14 outdoor weather sirens to warn of floods, tornadoes and wildfires — have previously touted the outdoor warning system as a 'vital tool' for emergency preparedness. The sirens, called an Outdoor Warning System, are designed to quickly and loudly notify a community of threats to public safety, including severe weather. San Marcos notes its sirens emit unique sound patterns for different emergencies. Critics say the devices can be expensive, require regular maintenance, are primarily designed to be heard outdoors and are not as effective as weather radios and mobile alerts. A single siren can cost an estimated $10,000 to $50,000 and multiple are sometimes needed. In an interview with the New York Times, Kelly said one reason Kerr County has no flood warning system is cost. 'Taxpayers won't pay for it,' Kelly told the outlet. Asked if residents might reconsider now, he responded: 'I don't know.' According to a May 12 Kerr County Commissioners' Court agenda, officials most recently considered a presentation from the Upper Guadalupe River Authority on the 'development of a Flood Warning System for Kerr County.' But it would not be the first time area leaders have heard such plans. In 2018, the county, along with the UGRA, applied for a $1 million grant for a flood warning system. 'That application was not selected, okay. That's the bad news,' a commissioner said, according to county commission meeting minutes at the time. Two years later, in 2020, according to county meeting minutes, that same commissioner said: 'We've been trying to get a new flood warning system here.' That 2020 meeting is when the county implemented IPAWS, or Integrated Public Alert & Warning System through FEMA, which is a free program offered through an existing contract with CodeRed, a system the county currently uses for mass emergency pre-recorded emergency telephone messages, according to its website. The CodeRed system is also used in Kerrville with the caveat that it relies on White Pages data and residents should not 'assume their number is included.' In the UGRA's Strategic Plan update for fiscal year 2025 – the most recent posted on its website – the agency listed a goal to 'evaluate and implement resources for flood warning in the Guadalupe River watershed.' Included in that goal, the UGRA aimed to 'work with local partners to develop Kerr County flood warning system.' A timeline provided under that point detailed several failed, declined or pending attempts to do just that over the past decade: In January 2017, UGRA partnered with Kerr County in a FEMA flood warning implementation grant request for $980,000. The project was not selected for funding and most of the funds went to communities impacted by Hurricane Harvey. During the previous reporting period, a pre-application for a count wide flood warning system was submitted to the Texas Water Development Board Flood Infrastructure Fund. The project was invited to submit a complete application, but UGRA declined due to the low (5%) match offered through the grant. UGRA participated in the update to the Kerr County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan which addresses hazards including flooding. The final plan was submitted to FEMA in April 2025. During this reporting period, UGRA requested bids for a flood warning dashboard that combines multiple sources of data into one tool. The project will also recommend future improvements to monitoring equipment related to flood warnings. Information from this dashboard will be used by UGRA staff and local emergency coordinators and decision makers. A contractor for this project was selected in April 2025. KXAN is awaiting responses from the county judge, commissioners, UGRA, TWDB and FEMA regarding those details and any decisions made. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Asia News Network
29 minutes ago
- Asia News Network
Foreign visitors to Vietnam near 10.7 million in first six months, half of yearly target
July 7, 2025 HANOI – Việt Nam welcomed nearly 10.7 million international arrivals in the first half of 2025, marking an increase of nearly 21 per cent compared to the same period last year, and up 26 per cent compared to 2019 – the 'golden era' of Vietnamese tourism before COVID-19 pandemic struck. According to newly released data from the National Statistics Office, in June alone, Việt Nam received nearly 1.5 million foreign visitors, down 4 per cent from the previous month. The 6 months' figure stands at 49 per cent of the yearly target 22-23 million tourists, but it should be noted that the peak international tourism season in Việt Nam lasts from October to March. Air travel remained dominant, with over 9 million arrivals by air (accounting for over 85 per cent of the arrivals total, and up by 22.7 per cent compared to the first six months of 2024), followed by nearly 1.4 million by land, and the remainder arriving by sea. Asia remained the largest market, accounting for over 8.41 million visitors (over 78 per cent), marking a 21.1 per cent increase year-on-year. Arrivals from Europe rose 26.5 per cent to 1.34 million, while visitors from the Americas grew 8.6 per cent to 582,800. Tourist numbers from Oceania reached 304,200, up 14.1 per cent, whereas arrivals from Africa edged down 0.3 per cent to 25,200. Tourists from Northeast Asia account for 60 per cent of total international visitors to Việt Nam in the first half of the year. Chinese tourists continue to top the list with over 2.7 million arrivals, followed by South Koreans with 2.2 million. Next in line are visitors from Japan, Taiwan (China), the United States, and India. In the opposite direction, more than 4 million Vietnamese travelled abroad in the past six months – a rise of nearly 54 per cent compared to the same period last year. 'Transport and tourism activities have surged to meet consumer demand both regionally and globally, making a positive contribution to economic growth. The value added by the service sector in the first half of the year rose by over 8 per cent year-on-year – the highest rate for the same period since 2011,' the statistics office noted. According to a report by leading consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Việt Nam ranks among the world's top emerging tourism markets, alongside China, India, and Saudi Arabia. These markets are quickly overtaking traditional tourism powerhouses such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The May edition of the World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) revealed that in the first quarter of this year, Việt Nam recorded the sixth-highest growth in international arrivals worldwide – up 30 per cent from the same period in 2024. Within the Asia–Pacific region, Việt Nam ranked first, followed by Japan and the Republic of Palau. Bloomberg reported that Việt Nam has emerged as the third most-visited country in Southeast Asia, with 17.5 million international visitors last year – surpassing Singapore and trailing only Malaysia (25 million visitors) and Thailand (35 million visitors). Experts believe the growing number of direct flights from other countries to Việt Nam is one of the key factors fuelling the country's tourism boom.
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Nutritionist shares 5 signs of poor gut health: Brain fog, bloating, irritation and more
Gut health plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. When it's compromised, it can impact us both physically and emotionally, disrupting sleep, triggering mood swings, and interfering with essential bodily functions. Nutritionist Deepsikha Jain frequently shares valuable tips on her Instagram profile about eating right and living well. On July 4, she posted a reel highlighting key signs of poor gut health. Also read | Harvard gut health physician shares 11 science backed tips to eat healthier: 'Don't shy away from eggs' Poor gut health can affect bodily functions.(Shutterstock) 'Don't ignore these signs of a struggling gut. Catch them early before they lead to more serious problems,' Deepsikha emphasised in her caption. 1. Brain fog or feeling confused: When the gut is not healthy, it affects our cognitive functions. We have difficulty thinking, making decisions, or paying attention. We also have brain fog all the time. 2. Having poor digestion or extreme bloating: Poor gut health can trigger gastrointestinal troubles, such as indigestion. Slow digestion can make us feel bloated. 3. Getting tired and sleepy: The gut plays a significant role in energy production for the body. When there is an imbalance in the gut microbiome or inflammation, it can lead to chronic fatigue, making us tired and sleepy. Also read | NHS surgeon explains how gut health could be the secret to your glowing skin: 'Your face is a billboard for your gut' 4. Feeling angry or irritated: The gut and brain are closely related. When the gut is imbalanced or inflamed, it can send negative signals to the brain, leading to irritation and anger. 5. Not feeling like yourself: The gut-brain connection plays a significant role in mood swings. When the gut is imbalanced, it affects neurotransmitter production, leading to mood swings and disrupted energy production. So, it is natural to feel off when you have a poor gut. Tips to improve gut health: In a 2025 interview with HT Lifestyle, Anukalp Prakash, director of gastroenterology at CK Birla, Gurugram, said, 'Though each of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics has a specific role to play in maintaining gut health, it's worth noting that not everybody requires all three in supplement form. Consider these 'biotics' an A-team: prebiotics feed, probiotics colonise, and postbiotics work. A solid, fibre-based diet, coupled with individualised medical advice, is still the best method to ensure a healthy, resilient gut.' Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
