INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUE IN VREDEFORT TO MARK WORLD POPULATION DAY IN NGWATHE MUNICIPALITY

By Tshegofatso Mogapi.

• Spotlight on Challenges: Dialogue focused on teenage pregnancy, GBV, substance abuse, and unemployment.
• Collaborative Solutions: Stakeholders urged GBV reporting, rehab access, and stronger community partnerships.
• Community Insights: Household profiling exposed gaps in healthcare, jobs, and education.

To commemorate World Population Day, the Free State Department of Social Development is hosting an Intergenerational Dialogue at the Mokwallo Community Multipurpose Centre in Vredefort, Fezile Dabi District. The engagement focuses on addressing population development challenges and promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, fostering meaningful discussions among community members and stakeholders

This year’s theme, “Empowering Young People to Create the Families they want in a Fair and Hopeful World,” guided the dialogue, which focused on tackling social ills affecting the community. These issues include substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, poverty, and unemployment.

The session convened a diverse group of stakeholders, including government departments, NGOs, community leaders, parents, youth, and religious representatives, to deliberate on the root causes of prevailing social challenges and identify sustainable solutions. Additionally, the dialogue aimed to empower the community by providing critical information on available government services designed to address these social ills.

Household profiling conducted in Ward 15 revealed deep-seated challenges, including limited access to healthcare, education, transport, social services, water, and employment. Community members also raised concerns around crime, child abuse, GBV, school dropouts, and substance abuse.

Key messages included:
•⁠ ⁠Encouraging communities to report GBV cases and seek support through social workers and SAPS.
•⁠ ⁠Promoting access to rehabilitation services for those battling substance abuse.
•⁠ ⁠Strengthening collaboration between parents, youth, and local stakeholders to tackle pressing developmental challenges.

The Department reiterated its unwavering commitment to strengthening partnerships with stakeholders in order to foster a safer, healthier, and more resilient society. Particular emphasis will be placed on empowering young people and improving the quality of life in under-resourced communities such as Mokwallo.