Two Windsor High pupils will be able to have their say in the democratic process after being selected as part of the Junior City Council (JCC).
Grade 11 pupil Soraya Mosavel and Grade 10 pupil Rania Enus learnt on Monday July 18 that they would be part of the council.
Both pupils, who are part of the school’s Representative Council of Learners (RCL), were nominated by their fellow RCL members to submit their applications to the JCC. They also had to fill out an application and submit a video motivation on social media.
Soraya says joining the JCC is a good opportunity to gain confidence and speak up on matters impacting society.
Rania says she likes helping people and wants to give young people a chance to voice their opinions.
Both pupils believe that the country is experiencing challenges and they want be the voice of the future in addressing concerns in society.
“I think our impact can be more recognised by the elder officials running the country as decisions made affect our futures,” says Rania.
She says its also important that the youth of today get involved in the democratic process.
“We are the future and it is important to look out for future generations as the government needs to take more responsibility in addressing injustices,” says Soraya.
Windsor High principal Dianne Morgan says she is proud of them for taking the initiative. “They play a good role in the school’s RCL. They are the voice of their school, and I would like them to play a bigger role in projects to develop our school.”
The JCC is a non-political programme run by the City of Cape Town to show high school pupils how the city council works.
JCC custodian and proportional representative councillor, Tami Jackson, says they take on 60 pupils from various high schools to be part of the JCC for a six-month term.
“Junior councillors are expected to be ambassadors for young Capetonians, have the ability to be catalysts within their communities through the execution of projects and be able to participate in democratic spaces,” she says.
