A new dimension was added to the Youth for Change Project with the introduction of the ‘Living Ball’ concept during a special event that took place on 23 March 2012 at Mahlasedi Masana Primary School in Mamelodi East. Living Ball is a Faith Based Organisation whose mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ using the ‘Living Ball’ as a tool, where each ball becomes a symbol of hope for the participants. The concept was articulated and explained to the project participants by Rev. Akih Abraham, PhD student of Theology at the University of Pretoria. A holistic approach to youth development does not only require physical, mental and emotional but also spiritual development. Read More
Youth Peer Educators – Agents for Behaviour Change
The HIV/AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan for South Africa places prevention as number one priority area in the fight against the pandemic. The plan emphasis that, the success of prevention interventions, particularly relating to sexual transmission of the virus depends largely on commitment to behaviour change. It is within this framework and against the backdrop of the high incidence of infection among the youth that one of the objectives of the Youth for Change Project is to train youths within the community as Youth Peer Educators and mobilize them to reach out to the wider youth population so that through sustained attitude and behaviour change they may be able to overcome the vulnerability factors to which they are exposed. Read more …
The Concept of Football for Youth Development
In a society where the future of the youth is compromised by huge challenges a rescue strategy is important to be able to make a turn around, lest they loose the zeal to hope for anything. We attempt to find out what the youth are passionate about and the most popular response we get is that they love to play football! Nelson Mandela once remarked that football speaks to the youth in a language they understand. If it does, then why not use it to teach them what they need to learn? Football is disciplined, it promotes fair competition, ignites ambition and instills the drive for accomplishment, teaches strategies of peaceful debate, provides instructions on how to deal with defeat and moulds personality and character. Read more …
Focus on Girls and Young Women
Growing up as a young person is particularly burdensome, especially for girls and young women who bear the brunt of the continuum of challenges which include, violence and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Girls are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection and other challenges like abuse, harassment, rape and physical violence than their male counterparts. This has a negative impact on their holistic development but given equal opportunities, they have the potential to excel as much as their male counterparts. Our focus on girls and young women is aimed at empowering them with knowledge and skills to enable them explore their creative and economic potentials. Read more…
A new dimension was added to the Youth for Change Project with the introduction of the ‘Living Ball’ concept during a special event that took place on 23 March 2012 at Mahlasedi Masana Primary School in Mamelodi East. Living Ball is a Faith Based Organisation whose mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ using the ‘Living Ball’ as a tool, where each ball becomes a symbol of hope for the participants. The concept was articulated and explained to the project participants by Rev. Akih Abraham, PhD student of Theology at the University of Pretoria. A holistic approach to youth development does not only require physical, mental and emotional but also spiritual development. Read More
The HIV/AIDS and STI National Strategic Plan for South Africa places prevention as number one priority area in the fight against the pandemic. The plan emphasis that, the success of prevention interventions, particularly relating to sexual transmission of the virus depends largely on commitment to behaviour change. It is within this framework and against the backdrop of the high incidence of infection among the youth that one of the objectives of the Youth for Change Project is to train youths within the community as Youth Peer Educators and mobilize them to reach out to the wider youth population so that through sustained attitude and behaviour change they may be able to overcome the vulnerability factors to which they are exposed. Read more …
In a society where the future of the youth is compromised by huge challenges a rescue strategy is important to be able to make a turn around, lest they loose the zeal to hope for anything. We attempt to find out what the youth are passionate about and the most popular response we get is that they love to play football! Nelson Mandela once remarked that football speaks to the youth in a language they understand. If it does, then why not use it to teach them what they need to learn? Football is disciplined, it promotes fair competition, ignites ambition and instills the drive for accomplishment, teaches strategies of peaceful debate, provides instructions on how to deal with defeat and moulds personality and character. Read more …
Growing up as a young person is particularly burdensome, especially for girls and young women who bear the brunt of the continuum of challenges which include, violence and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Girls are more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infection and other challenges like abuse, harassment, rape and physical violence than their male counterparts. This has a negative impact on their holistic development but given equal opportunities, they have the potential to excel as much as their male counterparts. Our focus on girls and young women is aimed at empowering them with knowledge and skills to enable them explore their creative and economic potentials. Read more…
