A network of young leaders who empower themselves and their communities towards active citizenship
“People always ask me, how’s Ocean View, and only now that I left do I realise this question irritates me,” says Jean. “Don’t ask me, go and see for yourselves. How can we have these dysfunctional communities in our vision every day and do nothing about them, as if asking about them is going to help solve the issues.”
Jean grew up in Ocean View, a hard neighbourhood situated incongruously on the fynbos slopes of the South Peninsula in South Africa, where violence and drug abuse are a part of your life. He left about a year ago.
We believe that youth have the energy and desire for a better world; by directing this energy towards positive transformation within themselves and where they live, we are building healthy, happy and self-sufficient communities.
Yes!Youth is a year-long mentorship programme that starts with a 9 day intensive training leadership foundation course. It provides youth with the tools, training and support to live and stand for human values whilst developing initiatives they are passionate about and that meet the needs of communities. Yes!Youth is run under the umbrella of the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), the sister organisation of The Art of Living Foundation.
In our economically challenged communities, youth have to face obstacles such as crime, substance abuse and unemployment in their daily interactions. It can be difficult for youth to navigate these environments without self-resilience and a healthy support system.
What we do
The Yes!Youth programme provides individuals with the tools and techniques for strengthening themselves, making them more resilient to life’s challenges and well as providing a healthy network of positive minded individuals who they can work with to create the change they wish to see in their communities. This creates a more sustainable and tangible impact, because the changes that they implement are coming from inside the community and makes use of local community networks and existing resources.
Our Program Objectives
Provide a Youth Leadership Training Programme (YLTP) that starts with a 9 day leadership camp with two intakes per year.
Building a network that can work together towards prosperity and peace in communities.
Encourage youth to shape community projects and to develop leadership and the practical skills required to successfully implement them.
Provide mentorship, guidance and project support to leaders for the period of a year.
Over the year the youth engage in the following activities:
Learn and practice meditation, yoga and advanced breathing techniques as tools for stress-reduction, improved energy and health, self-development and Self-awareness.
Understand and explore their community needs and assets (skills, talents, gifts, networks).
Learn skills through leadership in action; such as effective communication and public speaking, group facilitation, project management and organization.
Plan and implement specific projects to develop communities. (These projects spring from their own passions and interests and align with the needs of the community). We encourage and guide toward sustained and sustainable initiatives.
What we need
Our next Yes! Youth 9 day leadership training course. We need a minimum of R120 000 ($10 255) for the training to take place (30 youth at R4000- $345- per youth). Most of Yes!Youth participants cannot afford to pay for the training, and need full or partial sponsorship.
By supporting this project you will be part of enriching the live of 30 youth leaders from these areas in Cape town, who in turn will touch the lives of many people in their own communities. This model has proven to work in countries all over the world.
Through our selection process all our youth sign an agreement so they are aware of the participation requirements. Each month we have a monthly meet-up for youth to develop ideas and skills that are needed. We also support vocational skills development to build capacity where it’s needed.
Our whole programme is built on volunteers and we would love you to join us in whatever capacity you can. Come share your gifts - contact us info@yesyouth.org.za
This training can only happen with the support we get from you. Your support will help us train more youth leaders to build existing teams around Cape Town, as well as initiate teams in Eastern Cape, Kwazulu Natal and Mpumalanga. Our core facilitators and course helper’s work on a volunteer basis so the amount we are asking for covers direct costs such as accommodation, food, transport for training excursions to different communities, and course materials.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy at Yes!Youth is that every individual has the capacity to make a real difference, no matter how small or large.
Yes!Youth is about people working together to create change.
All our participating youth are interviewed before they are accepted as part of the programme, we enroll youth who are ready to work in their community, some are already quite active and this programme deepens the value and impact of what they are already doing.
Any additional funds (over the campaign target) will allow us to support youth with more training and seed funding for their initiatives during the ongoing programme, and sponsor the next intake.
