South Africa: Youth Empowerment Program

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South Africa is a nation still learning to deal with cultural diversity. Our volunteers from South Africa and abroad are helping to show that people from different backgrounds can work together towards achieving a common goal.

Volunteers are…



• Living and working in a rural community of the Eastern Cape
• Residing in traditional dwellings- either rondevaals (mud huts) or small brick houses
• Placed in pairs (1 local and either 1 national or 1 international)

Volunteers will be…



• Facilitating peer education classes with youth and parents regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health
• Encouraging behavioral change towards health and sanitation by raising awareness within your community
• Setting up and running sports clubs, entrepreneurship clubs, craft classes and debating societies to help young people develop life skills such as leadership, critical thinking, self-esteem and self-confidence
• Using games and activities to promote open discussion of sensitive issues among young people
• Establishing youth resource centers, libraries, and science and reading clubs
• Establishing Youth Action Groups to ensure that the voice of the youth is recognized and respected by the broader community, and to ensure that the work you are doing is sustainable
• Serving as a peer career guidance counselor for youth in your community

Case Study




“At our event on AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day, guest speakers from the Department of Health addressed the dangers of unprotected sex, and two young girls from the community publicly disclosed that they are HIV positive. Their willingness to do this reflects the amazing achievement of SPW volunteers in helping to break down AIDS-related stigma in the community. Mrs Sixpeni, a community elder said, ‘The volunteers have made a big difference in the lives of young people in our community, and we as elders feel obligated to support SPW and the volunteers.’” ~CHEP Volunteer

Staff Support:



• 2 offices - East London (main) & Umtata (field)
• Field visits to placement (1 per month) to assist with evaluations and planning, and to observe facilitation of workshops in order to provide feedback to volunteers
• Monthly meetings in cluster groups to report back achievements, help resolve problems and share information and materials

Country Information




Background: The Eastern Cape comprises vast open plains and sweeping landscapes that stretch as far as the eye can see. Its people are warm and welcoming, and despite the suppression of traditional black culture during the apartheid years, the Xhosa have retained a strong sense of culture and identity. Cattle play an important part in Xhosa culture; they symbolize wealth and are often used as sacrificial animals.

Language:Xhosa - it’s the one with the clicks!

Religion: Christian (though it is infused with traditional religion, which remains based on the belief in a masculine deity, ancestral spirits and supernatural forces)

Food:



• Staple - maize, potatoes and rice
• Meat - eaten at sacrificial ceremonies, known as mgidi, but is too expensive to be consumed daily
• Vegetarianism - accepted easily
• Other - Xhosa brew their own beer, also made from maize, which has a consistency similar to that of porridge and is very strong!