Education South Africa Project #48902

Empowering Winterveldt, South African Youth

by Bokamoso Life Centre

Project Report | Jun 18, 2021
Bokamoso Life Centre Report: March-June 2021

By Kenneth Giunta | Project Leader

Bokamoso Life Centre Alumni Reunion 2021

BOKAMOSO LIFE CENTRE: GLOBALGIVING REPORT UPDATE (March-June 2021)

COVID-19. Covid-19 continues to present challenges for the Bokamoso Life Centre. As reported in March, the Centre has employed many measures to control the virus, in accordance with guidance provided by South African public health laws and restrictions. This permitted the Centre to reopen and to offer its programs and support services. However, many at the Centre have experienced loss of loved ones to the virus, as well as some youth experiencing depression and anxiety. The Centre has several credentialed social workers on staff, who are in the midst of providing ongoing counselling to the youth and staff.

Due to Covid-19, there was no international exchange trip to the United States in 2020. Alumni, current Bokamoso youth and Centre managers have been engaged in the production of several promotional videos about the Bokamoso programs and outcomes that are currently being used as the basis for virtual fundraising and outreach events.

Alumni Engagement. Efforts are under way to strengthen outreach to Bokamoso Alumni. In late March, Bokamoso held it’s first-ever Alumni reunion where over 63 alumni attended. It was a great day. The purpose of these ongoing efforts are to build relationships between alumni and current youth beneficiaries. Many alumni are either still attending university and/or are now working. They are vital resources who can offer invaluable guidance and assistance to Bokamoso youth as they consider their career and life choices.

Logo. After 23 years, it was decided to update and refesh the Bokamoso Life Centre’s logo. The Centre’s new logo symbolizes unity in diversity amongst all stakeholders. The logo was developed and published by Bokamoso Youth, who have launched their own business in graphic design.

The Green Economy and Sustainable Agriculture. The Bokamoso Life Centre hosted a workshop on The Green Economy and Sustainable Agriculture. The workshop was conducted by the University of Johannesburg, and was initiated by a local social worker in Winterveldt, who learned that the University was looking for a venue to host a training session for farmers in WINTERVELDT. At the time, university officials did not know about the Bokamoso Life Centre, but fell in love with the Centre, its programs and mission, when several Bokamoso youth attended the session.

The training workshop was held on 10 June 2021, from 09:00-15:00, and was called “FEETS Training for Winterveldt Farmers”. Over 30 emerging farmers from Winterveldt attended the training in addition to the several Bokamoso youth. The purpose of the training was to introduce to the community how technology has evolved in the farming industry and to encourage our youth beneficiaries to consider a career in farming, since Winterveldt is an Agricultural Holding.

The University is now open to and welcomes further interaction and training, with the community and the Centre. Bokamoso will be inviting the University to present at the Centre for Career Day on 25 June 2021 so that other Bokamoso youth who were not able to attend the training session, can have the opportunity to also get information about careers in farming in Winterveldt.

Further, young people, who are interested in farming, can apply for skills development with SETAs...Sector Education and Training Authorities. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also offers opportunities for emerging black farmers.

As part of an ongoing effort to expose Bokamoso youth to emerging careers and training The Centre is now also partnering with Furniture World College, that offers job opportunities in furniture making, clothing production, construction, and bricklaying, etc.

Bokamoso Life Centre Alumni Reunion 2021

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Mar 29, 2021
Program Highlight Report Since December 2020

By Kenneth Giunta | Project Leader

Youth Recruitment 2021

Recruitment and Registration of the youth.

Since December 2020 and while in the midst of the restrictions presented by COVID-19, the Bokamoso Life Centre (BLC/Centre) enhanced its recruitment for this year's session of its upcoming Youth Development Programme (YDP). Recruitment was expanded from being conducted solely by word of mouth, to also include a broader-based community outreach and youth mobilization efforts in Winterveldt. A total of 66 YDP beneficiaries have now been enrolled for 2021; 16 more than the Centre can normally accommodate, and who are drawn primarily from Winterveldt and neighboring communities. Families and youth are becoming increasingly familiar with the Centre, as demonstrated by a substantial increase in inquiries about the Centre's programs. The Centre has also begun to refer families and youth, who it cannot accommodate currently due to a lack of sufficient resources, to other programs where they can receive the help and services that they need. The majority of the Centre's youth participants come from vulnerable communities, where economic conditions are dire. Some program participants must walk for more than 5km to the Centre on a daily basis.

As described on the Centre's website (www.bokamosoyouth.org) and in the program summary, the YDP is one of the Centre’s flagship programs. Through facilitated discussions, led by trained staff, youth share their personal experiences and receive professional guidance navigating a myriad of subjects to help put them on a good path to become fully engaged in their own futures, including:

* Communication.

* Human Development.

* Job Readiness.

* Resumes and Interviews

* Careers and Career choices

* Spirituality.

* Human Trafficking.

* Substance abuse and GBV.

* Teenage pregnancy and STIs.

* Unemployment.

* Environmental History.

2. Computer Skills Training/ ICT

The Centre is now offering End-User Computer Training, not only to the current YDP participants, but also to community members. The Centre's computer skills training is an accredited program, and the certificates offered upon completion to program graduates are recognized by employers, both in the public and private sectors.

The Centre often trains youth, who have never used or had access to a computer before. The current waiting list for the Centre's computer skills training this year currently stands at 186, and extends beyond October 2021, so far. Due to limited resources, equipment and training facilitators, the Centre is only able to train 16 beneficiaries every six weeks, with one group meeting in the mornings and one in the afternoons. The current demand is so high that the Centre’s limited number of training facilitators are working over-time to achieve the program's intended objectives. There is high demand for computer training and ICT, as the world moves rapidly into the digital space. It is essential that youth coming from vulnerable communities are not left behind.

3. Scholarship

The Life Centre’s scholarship program continues and currently there are 19 youth beneficiaries receiving Bokamoso-funded scholarships. As in preceding years, the Centre anticipates the demand from qualifying applicants to increase for the second semester of 2021. These students are currently attending various institutions of higher education as well as vocational training programs. Their careers include, but are not limited to, law, security, arts and fashion design, engineering, marketing, public management, and social work. Scholarships awarded by the Centre are full, not partial, and assist students with tuition fees, books and transportation costs.

Further, under the scholarship program, there are an additional 19 Bokamoso youth, who are studying at colleges and universities, either (a) because they started with a Bokamoso scholarship and then subsequently received a government-funded National Student Financial Aid System (NSFAS) grant (bursary/scholarship) or (b) because the Centre helped them gain access to, apply for and receive a NSFAS bursary (scholarship), which is another new service provided by the Centre. To have so many additional youth from Winterveldt attend college this year funded by NSFAS scholarships, is also a tremendous accomplishment.

4. COVID-19

The pandemic has stretched the Centre’s resources to the limit, given the need to employ extraordinary measures to control the virus. The Centre acquired extra PPE for our beneficiaries and implemented several non-pharmaceutical measures, such as handwashing, sanitizing, wearing of masks and social distancing. These efforts have paid off, with the Centre now open for business, in accordance with South African public health laws and restrictions.

5. Building of new ablution facilities

After using pit latrines throughout the Centre’s history, this year, the Centre built and installed new flush toilets. This is not an insignificant improvement and has been very welcomed by the Centre's staff and beneficiaries.

More information about the Centre's many other programs and services can be found on the Centre's website at www.bokamosoyouth.org.

Bokamoso Life Centre Youth Development Program

Bokamoso Life Centre Computer Training

Bokamoso Life Centre Mural

Links:

Bokamoso Life Centre Website

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