Opportunities for Youth
One of the most important aspects of the C4L mandate is to assist young women and men to develop their skills and talents. They are the future - both as its leaders and as the backbone on which South African society will rebuild and grow.
Opportunities for youth at C4L include some accredited courses that are part of the National Qualifications Framework, as well as other courses that have a more motivational or occupational focus. These are distinguished as "formal" and "non-formal" training.
By offering courses that are accredited, C4L is participating in capacity building according to national standards set by SAQA, the South African Qualifications Authority. The students involved in this training are in their late teens or early twenties. For various reasons they have been unable to complete their high school previously, or they are out-of-school and unemployed. These young people can register for courses at either:
- Level 4 to obtain the equivalent of matriculation, or
- Level 5 which is the equivalent of a one year post matriculation certificate programme.
For more information on the context of these levels, see Understanding the South African National Qualifications Framework.
The courses are one year long and include a small stipend to provide for costs of the training and family life.
With an accreditated certificate, graduates are qualified for employment, specifically in the area of community development and project management. They are also accredited assessors and mentors so that they can assist others to learn this kind of work.
Accredited Courses
Development Practice
C4L's courses have been developed to fit the culture and context of their lives and the communities in which the learners live. They are taught to understand the processes and skills necessary for starting and running a successful project, including conducting community assessments, developing business plans, making applications for funding, and managing finances. While 30% of the course time is spent in the classroom learning theory, 70% is spent in the field putting these theories into action. The practical work for each student centers on assisting orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in the areas surrounding C4L by:
- Organizing and operating an after-school Kids Club at one of thirty local schools, to provide stability and emotional support to the OVC at that school. In addition to teaching crafts, supervising sports activities, and assisting with homework, they are:
- Acting as role models by promoting healthy life styles, and giving the children opportunities to talk constructively about drugs, pregnancy and alcohol abuse.
- Making regular visits to evaluate the home situation of each of the affected children and preparing and submitting written assessments to the Programme Manager of C4L's OVC Project.
New Venture Creation (Entrepreneurship)
The youth registered in a New Ventures Creation course will develop a good understanding of what they will need to start their own business in the area of their personal interest. This is a one year course and includes practical business skills, including developing a business plan, making a loan application, registering a small business, and the various aspects of business financial management. During the process they will also develop and practice the social skills, business ethics and moral responsibility needed by young entrepreneurs. Their practical work will involve setting their plan into action so that when they complete their course, they will have a small business that is up and running and already starting to provide them a living.
Care for the Caregivers
Discipleship Challenge
This motivational training, offered monthly by C4L, is designed to deepen and strengthen the youth in their faith and values, exploring the questions of "who am I" and "why am I here". Many of these youth come from dysfunctional families, and although they may have started on a career path, they are still very vulnerable. They need regular reminders and positive reinforcement.
For many of the team, there has been no father in their lives. Learning about God as a loving heavenly father can be a transforming experience. Coming to know God's grace, love and mercy and experiencing a father who will walk beside them, support them, and provide for their needs, is often the key to a new life and healing so they can develop and maintain the courage and strength of character necessary to deal appropriately with difficult social and family problems and resist the temptation to use drugs as a solution.
The structure of the training gives them the opportunity to talk through their problems with an older couple who can provide nurturing and support, especially for those with few positive family role models of their own. These courses have proven their worth in creating resilient and mature young people who can make good decisions, who know what they believe, and who have worked through their issues of forgiveness. There has been a great change in their lives. This training is either held at the C4L Campus in plenary sessions, or in small groups in the 8 communities where there are C4L activits.
Mentoring Youth Organizations
C4L sponsors a support programme to the managers of 17 other youth organizations in Mpumalanga Province by facilitating weekly visits by a member of the C4L staff to their workplaces. The mentoring support provided to these organizations includes training in:
- Programme management
- Care and support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC)
- Fund raising
- Report writing
By transferring the knowledge and skills for administering youth organizations effectively, this programme provides an excellent illustration of C4L's goal to help build capacity in South Africa.
Incubating Self-help Groups
An example of how Opportunities for Youth evolve is the fostering by C4L of a 15-member drama, music and dance troupe calling itself Jikelele Performing Arts Company. Begun with funding from the National Arts Council of South Africa, and under the leadership of a talented young South African, Duncan Dludlu, this group of young "a cappella" singers have learned how to develop performance routines, plan schedules, book venues, handle advertising and marketing, arrange transportation and accommodation, manage finances and undertake all the other skills required to operate their own performance company. The plan is for Jikelele to perform in their own communities and that began in 2009 with VELDFIRE, a show it put on in Nelspruit.
