ELIM – A successful Youth Festival for the young people in the Vhembe District took place at Elim High last weekend.

The festival, which was hosted by the Makombandlela Youth Movement in collaboration with LoveLife and various youth structures, offered different sporting codes. The regional campaign manager of LoveLife in the Vhembe District, Benjamin Ntsoane, said his organisation wants to change the behaviour for young people into a positive lifestyle.

Ntsoane claimed that they are reaching out to areas where LoveLife never existed. “This is where we are spreading LoveLife messages in face-to-face interaction with the youth and we normally do this in a vibrant and youth-friendly approach. We are also of the view that, by staging this festival, we will be introducing our programmes to our youth whom we have never reached before,” he said.

Asked to comment about the youths who are still refusing to participate in LoveLife programmes, he said that it would always be difficult for them to remember that there is no cure HIV/Aids. “With their ignorance, we are not going to achieve anything, so we urge them to come and join others,” he said.

The guest speaker, Mrs Adeline Rikhotso, gave young people more information about sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/Aids and teenage pregnancies. “We want you to take action in protecting yourselves through our ‘Get attitude’ campaign,” she said.

The Managing Director of Makombandlela Youth Movement, Koki Maluleke, said most young people display their deliberation and dancing skills in youth activities. Asked if he had achieved the primary objective of the festival, Maluleke said the event was well organised, with young people participating in various sporting codes, networking and getting more information about challenges they have faced on a daily basis. He said as Makombandlela, they are intending to stage winter games during July.