Documentary focuses on drug abuse
She realised that social ills were taking over children’s lives, which is why she started working with the youth of Walvis Bay in 2016.In 2019, journalist, writer and philanthropist, Taati Niilenge, and her friends started Project 29 with the aim of developing the port town’s youth into “purposeful, God-fearing and academic giants”.
In the three years before the project began, it became clear to her that drug abuse among the youth of Walvis Bay was taking over the town, says Taati.
Shocked parents began complaining about their children’s disobedient behaviour and their failures at school. Children as young as seven years old were getting involved in gangs and criminal activities, with the police increasingly having to visit schools.
“I spent more time at schools where children from the age of seven were caught with dangerous objects, such as knives, stolen money and other items. I would find parents at school who had no idea what was going on and only then, thanks to their children’s confessions, would I find out that they were involved in theft, gangs and drug abuse, which was the biggest scapegoat,” says Taati.
As a journalist, writer and producer with several books and documentaries to her name, she decided to make a programme about the evils and devastation of drugs to try to create awareness.
“We have all tried. The police have stepped up their awareness campaigns at schools, community educators and counselors have held meeting after meeting at schools and churches.”
Some young people have been saved and have even made it to university, but every day there are new ones who continue to fall into the drug trap.
With her new documentary, Taati hopes that members of the community and especially parents will see what the signs are to look out for and where to go for help.
“I am concerned about the drug situation among young people in my town and country. Many mothers call me and cry about their children. It's the holidays and I know it's going to get worse.”
Taati will make the documentary Stolen Youth: Hostages of Drug Addiction available free of charge to church and youth groups upon request to raise awareness and help.
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