Event in Northern Cape: Breakfast with my TEENAGER

In the last issue we briefly touched on the many challenges our teens face in today’s day and age that’s why the event in Northern Cape: Breakfast with my teenager. We also made mention of a certain program run annually by a social worker based in Kimberley, Norther Cape. As luck would have it, the program happened just after that very article, which made it possible for Diamond Magazine SA to attend the event and pick up on the sentiment of both parent and child and at the same time hear what is available from the experts to assist them to deal with these many curveballs that life has
been throwing at basically everyone!

Kgomotso Bessie saw the need for the restoration of families and has a desperate passion to make this happen. Her idea was to get both the parent and the child in the room, line up some well-versed experts on relevant topics and have everyone start talking. What was particularly interesting upon observation, was that around ninety present of the room was quiet and stuck to themselves before the event started.

Breakfast with my teenager speaker

However, by the time the first speaker, Ms. Kanya Mlungwana, Key Account Specialist at Sanlam Connect, started her presentation, I quickly realized that it would be an extraordinary morning. It was not long
before people started connecting and participating in the conversations. Ms. Mlungwana was hitting the nail right on the head as she focused on financial planning and the great amount of freedom it brings once it is correctly and intentionally implemented. The truth hit hard as parents realized the impact that lack of financial planning has in the lives of their children and even themselves when they are
past retirement age and the well runs dry!

I had the opportunity to speak to some of the families attending the events in Northern Cape: Breakfast with my TEENAGER and fifteen-year-old Khiyaan Kanjee expressed his appreciation for an opportunity to move even closer to his father who accompanied him, as well as gain a better understanding of financial literacy. His father, Mr Jay Kanjee, was very happy to have spent the morning with his son while receiving such brilliant presentations and talks. He was not wrong. I myself was a speaker at the event and was quite impressed in the manner information was put together and presented for everyone to understand.
It warms one’s heart when you see teenagers enjoying sessions that touch on finances, personal wellbeing and health.

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called STRESS. Working hard for something we love is called PASSION”

is a quote by Simon Sinek and was used in the presentation delivered by Ms. Miranda Daly, manager:
Financial Education at First National Bank, Northern Cape and Northwest province.

Gazing across the room one was able to recognize that the lady knew what she was talking about. It is quite refreshing to have someone share tips about something while they themselves are honest about the significance thereof in their own personal lives. It is not hard to believe that teens are facing some serious issues, but at the same time “Breakfast with my Teenager” proves that there truly is something that can be done about it.

Needless to say, there are countless such initiatives across the globe, and it is very reassuring when you hear someone like sixteen-year-old Owethu Tyindyi say that it encouraged her to open up to her mother! This young girl made some valuable notes on how to manage finances and spend well,as well as just planning her life ahead. One can safely say that there really are people out there wanting to assist and at the end of the day, if we want to see these youngsters make it in life, we need to remember and once again apply the African saying of “It takes a village to raise a child”

This article is from the Diamond Magazine Issue 10

That is how the event in Northern Cape: Breakfast with my teenager went how is your journey with your TEENAGER?