I live in Atteridgeville where fighting and shouting are normal. Even at home, arguments happened almost every night. I learned from a young age that if you want to be heard, you have to fight back. That’s how I behaved at school too. I used to get into fights with classmates for small things, and teachers called me a troublemaker.

Then the Altus Sport programme came, and at first, I didn’t take it seriously. But one day, our Youth Sport Leader spoke about conflict and peace and how peace is not being quiet, it’s choosing how to respond. We acted out scenes about bullying and arguments and for the first time, I saw myself in those stories. I realised I was hurting people who didn’t deserve it.

I started working on my anger by breathing before reacting. It wasn’t easy but every time I managed to walk away, I felt stronger. My friends began to notice and even started asking me for advice when they argued. My teacher said I had changed a lot and made me a class monitor.

The biggest change for me is that I’ve learned peace starts with me. I no longer fight to prove myself. I lead by staying calm and showing respect. I never thought I’d be someone people call a “peacemaker,” but now that’s who I am.