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#ChildrensVoices | 15 year old Jamie Gumbi shares how he feels about the lockdown

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Jamie Gumbi (Supplied)
Jamie Gumbi (Supplied)

#ChildrensVoices is a ReaderLympics initiative, where children are invited to share their experiences of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. 

To submit your own letter, or to find out more visit www.readerlympics.co.za


By Jamie Gumbi, 15years years old 

There are many ways to express the way I feel about the current lockdown but the way I could best describe it is to say this lockdown has both benefits and disadvantages 

The importance and great advantage is that the lockdown will save lives by stopping the spread.

Other advantages for me is that I am getting to spend more time with family, cooking.

I will be a master chef soon. Bettering my basketball skills and doing online schooling has been quite an experience and I am getting way better at it. 

The disadvantages is the negative effect this all has on the economy. The people of the of the country need to stop complaining and realize the true epidemic we facing.

My view is that government understands what’s going on especially with salaries, grants and businesses and they are doing their best to assist. 

My plea is that the government should their best to get education to those who are less fortunate. This epidemic will change our lives for a long long time.

It will take a long time before we can go on family vacations, do rugby festivals and even go to movies with our friends.

I urge my fellow peers and citizens to take care of themselves during this epidemic. Remember the end of the lockdown does not mean the end of the epidemic. 

I feel out government and country is dealing with this in the right attitude and everyone will be okay.


If you are the parent of a teen struggling through the lockdown, the following resources are available to provide immediate support:

Suicide Crisis Line 0800 567 567 or SMS line 31393

South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) Mental Health Line 011 234 4837

Akeso Psychiatric Response Unit (24 hours a day) 0861 435 787

Find a therapist near you on TherapyRoute.com

Chat back:

Share your story with us and we could publish it. Anonymous contributions are welcome.

WhatsApp: Send messages and voicenotes to 066 010 0325

Email: Share your story with us via email at chatback @ parent24.com

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