Just recently, the Lesego Tau Education Foundation (LTEF) launched another group of 200 Agents that will serve the community for a period of 12 months.
Junior Perception Agents (JPA) are Grade 11 learners selected by LTEF to serve other young people in schools and the community.
According to the founder of LTEF Lesego Tau, it is the view of LTEF to have young people actively involved in community development, not only talking about what affects them but also taking a step in addressing the social ills that they face.
“This group of young people is trained to be community champions and masters of their own destiny.” he said.
Tau said that in their 12 months of serving, they are expected to address the following challenges: access to government opportunities, community social ills like; crime, substance abuse and unruly learners at schools.
LTEF has a partnership with 10 schools that serve on the JPA programme namely; Siyabusa High School, PJ Simelane High School, Ikusasalethu High School, Forte High School, George Khoza High School, Khatelopele High School, Sebetsa O thole Moputso High School, Mncube High School, Thulani High School and Siyabonga High School.
The roles of a JPA on the programme are to; lobby the importance of education to other young people, inform other young people about available opportunities, help the school to lobby resources and be actively involved in community development.
JPAs will be trained by the LTEF in; Leadership skills, Communication Skills, Mental Improvement, Goal Setting, Time Management and Budgeting Skills.
According to Tau LTEF seeks to forge relationships and get more young people actively involved in community work and be part of the change.
The 200 JPAs will be taken through leadership camps, educational tours, give back campaigns, juvenile prison visits and career days.
“It will be a challenging 2017 for all Agents as they will also be expected to perform well academically.
“We as LTEF train groom and grind young leaders that are able to sustain development in their respective communities,” said LTEF programme manager Busisiwe Vilakazi.
More on LTEF email: ltef.foundation@gmail.com