A well-established Mogale City based Non-profit making Organisation (NPO), Fully Human Stages (THFS), hosted a Gala Dinner to assist the organisation to carry out its mandate to inspire and motivate young ones to turn their lives around.
The youth organisation, established in 2005 got operational in 2009 had an opportunity to host a Gala Dinner at the Golden Sands Lodge, in Tarlton, Mogale City, last weekend, 30 November 2024, to raise funds as well as showcasing the work done by the organisation over the past 18 years of operation.
Some of the programmes that the TFHS roll out is the HIV/AIDS, substance and drugs abuse, the fight against GBV and femicides. The programmes that the organisation is rolling out include the outreach programmes on HIV/AIDS testing and screening for TB.
The event which attracted businesses such as FNB as well as officials from government departments and NPO’s, saw speakers pledging their support to empower the youth-led to organisation achieve its directive.
In her keynote address speech, Mokgadi Mahlalela, the THFS Board Chairperson spoke eloquently about the success as well as the challenges faced by the organisation.
Mahlalela humbly requested the businesspeople as well as the local to play their part in assisting the organisation to achieve their mandate which is promoting healthy lifestyle, poverty reduction and creating employment opportunities for young people.
“I’m truly blessed to be standing before you and give an account of what this organisation has achieved and the challenges we encounter on a daily basis and the positives that we have emerged through our collaborative work,” Mahlalela said.
“Firstly, it was difficult to understand what these young people wanted to achieve. We gave them an opportunity to express themselves and understood each other better aa time went by. The results were amazing due to the respect that their commanding from our communities.
“We need to help the government to address the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequalities. For that to happen we need the assistance of local people and businesspeople to play their part for us to achieve our goals,” she concluded.
Speakers from different stakeholder departments such as Health, Social Development and Gauteng Aids Council, amongst others, spoke expressively about the positive outcomes that the organisation has achieving, which have overshadowed the negatives.
The negative accepts that the youth-led organisation amongst others include ack of cooperation from community members, who refuse to be tested though it is not compulsory as well as being thin on funding.
The TFHS founder and Managing Director, Godfrey Khunou, was happy about the achievement that the has over the years since its inception.
“I’m lost for words, and I would from the bottom of my heart thank all the stakeholder partners and funders and the participants as well as the board members for being patient with us and understanding what the organisation stands for,” Khunou said to a rousing round of applause from the audience.
“Ours is that we need to assist young people being absorbed into universities, getting employed and leading a healthy lifestyle. For that we want to implore upon local businesspeople to come on board as fund some of the projects we are running.
“The objective of this gala dinner amongst others, is to celebrate 18 years of selfless community service to our people, more so, young and old people. To raise funds and most importantly, to start new partnerships and strengthen existing ones,” Khunou concluded.
The organisation’s participants were awarded certificates of appreciation, and the audience were served sumptuous meal to conclude the business of the evening.
Sipho None
Soweto Sunrise News
