YOUTH from 10 wards within eThekwini Municipality, among them Isipingo and Umbogintwini, participated in a leadership workshop at the Toti Civic Centre on Thursday, 5 November.
It was facilitated by the South Durban Basin (SDB) Area Based Management (ABM) in partnership with UMTAPO.
“The journey to realising the vision of a non-racial, peaceful South Africa still continues 20 years into our democracy. We still strive for a society that is characterised by social and economic justice and for values that are consistent with the spirit of ubuntu, as it is clear the remnants of our painful past will take a long time to be undone. Based on this premise, work needs to continue with young people to assist them in tackling racism with the purpose of community and peace building,” said SDB ABM social development co-ordinator, Anitha Govender.
The SDB ABM has partnered with UMTAPO, a non- profit organisation whose mission is to empower and enable people, particularly youth and women, through popular education and participatory development, to take control of their own lives in the struggle for true freedom and justice.
The workshop was a follow-up to a three-day camp in Botha’s Hill in May, where 50 youth were selected to participate in the programme.
“The aim of the workshop was to bring the youth together to discuss and brainstorm projects they have implemented in their respective wards and identify challenges and shortcomings that they have experienced and to map the way forward.”
In Isipingo, at the Dakota Beach informal settlement, a successful counselling group has been established. “A committee meets regularly to discuss issues in the settlement, among them teenage pregnancy, drugs and crime. A team patrols to ensure residents are safe and is linked to a community policing forum,” said Anitha.
In Umbogintwini, sports is the focus, with both boys and girls involved to get them off the streets and away from criminal activities. Other areas where youth are active in their communities are the Bluff, Clairwood, Merebank, Wentworth, Jacobs, Umbilo, Havenside and Lamontville.
The main objective of the workshop was to develop leadership skills through promotion of volunteerism; social interaction and build and strengthen the lives of young people through interaction.
“The group is excited and motivated. If they can change one child’s life and if that child changes another’s life, it’s a domino effect, which is the goal.”
