Engaging Thaba Tseka Young People in Public Service Activities:'Paray High School Drama Group Case Study'

摘要

Public service is not only the responsibility of governments but communities of a nation in their respective different capacities. Some of the trends in community service vary from engagement in health, education, crime reduction and gender sensitization. This paper elaborates on the role of public service the youth in the Thaba - Tseka district in Lesotho have played in an effort to be responsible public service providers. The Paray High School drama group pioneered an HIV/AIDS public service health and education initiative in a quest to break silence around issues of HIV/AIDS between their peers and adults. Qualitative and quantitative results presented in this paper reveal that through active participation and discussion on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, by use of drama, the youth led a public service activity that improved openness, confidence, open communication between peers, youth and adults in a culture where silence and limited openness about sexual issues (HIV/AIDS in particular) are presumed to be protective of the youth and too embarrassing for adults. They gained skilled capacity to articulate their views about such taboos and encouraged community tolerance for the infected and affected. This level of public service in Lesotho by these young people was in essence an extension of what the Ministry of Health, Education and Youth Sports and Gender were tasked to do. In conclusion, this paper recommends that youth should be guided and encouraged to be more involved in public service activities to give them a sense of responsibility and preparedness for working conditions that emphasize self employability and reliance in an era where governments are strapped for resources and offer limited employment opportunities.