- The Fear of God Movement launched a mural at Montague Gift Primary School in Lotus River to address youth drug abuse.
- Edson Klaassen of ADCC explained the mural’s imagery, highlighting its representation of life choices and the consequences of drug use.
- The movement, comprising various organisations, aims to support learners facing challenges related to drugs, crime, and broken homes.
With children as young as nine and 10 reportedly experimenting with drugs, a new movement, the Fear of Good Movement is providing support to learners.
Last week, on Monday 15 July, the movement launched a colourful mural during an educational talk at Montague Gift Primary School in Lotus River.
The group comprises of various organisations, including Alcohol and Drug Concerns Cape (ADCC), local churches, Grassy Park police, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), former police officers, ex-offenders and City of Cape Town representatives.
Edson Klaassen, a representative from the Fear of God Movement, explained the meaning behind the mural.
“The mural is an art piece and more than just a mural, it is the meaning associated with it,” he said. “It is the imagery learners will see on a daily basis, of a shoe and laces, which represents choices in life.”
READ: Peer counsellors join the fight against substance abuse in Mitchell’s Plain
The laces, which represents shackles, depicts how drugs are a “shackle” which leads to more shackles, such as crime and prison.
“The mural represents a child faced with a choice, you go towards your future or you make another choice such as gangsterism,” said Klaassen. “The shoe laces turn into chains which represent crime and jail time.”
In his work at ADCC, Klaassen has seen and worked with children as young as nine.
“Children as young as nine and 10 are experimenting with Mandrax, tik, alcohol, anti-depressants and cocaine… so being in this line of work we have seen this,” he said.
Merchants
Questioned on how young children are exposed to such an array of drugs, Klaassen said it is often as simple as a family member being a drug merchant.
“There is a road in Parkwood, for example, where you would find three merchants, all in one road,” he said.
“So, if you are a child and you live in that street or in that home, you see it and you have access to drugs.”
Other examples include drug merchants operating opposite a church or family members from inside the home.
“It is a reality, sometimes it is the uncle, the grandparent or friends and a broken home results in a broken society and a broken world.”
The group aims to assist learners who find themselves going through difficulties,
“We would like to provide and offer aid to learners at the school that are suffering, going through difficulties in their communities,” said Klaassen.
READ: ‘Substances are ruining families’
“May it be kids that are experimenting or addicted to substances, maybe it is parents affected or kids who are not at school because of it, so we are there to help and support learners and teachers alike.”
Kim Walters, an ex-convict who joined Alcohol and Drugs Concern Cape as a volunteer and now works as a permanent employee, hopes no child goes through the journey of crime and prison, like she did.
“I come from a very broken family of seeing my father abusing my mother for years, life at home was terrible especially the abuse towards my mom.”
At the age of 14, Walters and her family found themselves living on the streets after her father lost his job.
“We became homeless and my mom started to drink a lot.”
READ: ‘Say no to drugs’: Former gangsters and drug addicts encourages youth in Factreton
At the age of 21, Walters found herself pregnant and homeless which later led her to abusing drugs at the age of 23.
“In 2006, I was involved in a crime where a robbery went wrong,” said Walters. “I was busy stealing in one room when in the other room they murdered the guy,” she claims.
Walters hopes by sharing her experience that learners would make better choices in life.
“My advice to children, whatever you are going through, speak up and find someone you can trust.”
For more info or assistance call ADCC on 021 797 0583 or WhatsApp on 071 995 1649.
