The youth of Plane Street have come together to re-establish the Plane Street Youth Group, an organisation aimed at empowering the community’s young people and equipping them with the skills to build a brighter future.
The group was officially launched at the Plane Street Pension Cottage, bringing together community members, stakeholders, and young people. Founder Dinah Perumal said the idea to reform the organisation began several months ago.
“Looking around our community, I did not like what I saw; there were many school leavers, teenage pregnancies, and rampant drug use,” she said. “In 2009, I ran the Plane Street Youth Club with 35 youths under my wing. We excelled, doing a lot of charity work and holding events. Those members have now grown up, many with kids of their own. I was asked by several members, ‘Why not start a group with this generation of youth?’ At first, I hesitated, thinking I would not be able to handle this generation of youth.”
After some thought, Perumal gathered the area’s young people and proposed a new youth group. “They were hesitant at first, having no prior experience in community work and having never tried anything like this before, but they showed a keen interest to try,” Perumal said. “I decided to take them on and form this group where youth can be guided away from destructive and self-sabotaging behaviours. Here, they can be led down a path where they learn to be responsible, motivated, and have a vision for the future.”
Perumal thanked the organisation Via Me for its aid and spiritual support. She said: “I knew this would be a difficult generation to deal with, but with the help of Via Me in providing spiritual backup and counselling for these kids, we have seen much improvement in the short time that we have been working together.”
Pastor Kevin Govender of Via Me said: “Via me is a part of Zion City Ministries International in Durban. We have come into Tongaat because we know this is where the Indian community first settled, but we have seen generations sitting in struggle and want to see the Indians of Tongaat rise. This is about better lives for the youth, getting them out here to reach their full potential. That’s what we want to see out of them, to make something out of themselves, and this is an opportunity to take steps in that direction. If people band together and stick together, they can achieve anything.”
The group’s 22-year-old chairperson, Lloyd Daniel Pillay, said he joined the organisation because of his community. “We have many problems here: drugs, underage drinking, teenage pregnancy, petty crime. Sometimes it feels like total chaos out here. This youth group offers an escape from all that. By putting this youth group together, we are hoping to take on some projects, do community work, reintroduce sport into the area, and help the people of Plane Street and other places, hopefully building a way for other young people to escape these conditions.”
One of the group’s first events will be a senior pamper day, where the youth group will offer haircuts and other beauty treatments for the elderly. While a date has not yet been set, the organisation welcomes sponsors, donations, or volunteers to help them in this and future endeavours.
Anyone interested in providing aid or seeking further information can contact Perumal on 066-551-9735.
