UBUNTU CLUBS
Community-based youth clubs that provide at-risk youth with a safe social and recreational milieu, peer education on issues of violence and HIV/AIDS, and community service activities reflecting the spirit of Ubuntu (community solidarity).
Khulisa’s Ubuntu Clubs were originally established by Khulisa trained out-of-school youth leaders in 2003. Today over 120 Ubuntu Clubs are operational around South Africa with this number expanding by at least 100% during the course of this year.
These Ubuntu Clubs are managed in their entirety by community members who are trained in Club operations, Ubuntu and project management
The Relevance of Youth Clubs
The high rate of youth violence and crime in South Africa is a major concern. Studies on youth violence and crime indicate that one of the primary reasons youth become involved in crime is inactivity, boredom and the lack of recreational opportunities within their communities. The establishment of the proposed youth clubs will provide a local focus for the propagation of youth activities within the community. They will benefit young people in terms of the quality of peer relationships they will foster, as well as providing the opportunity for mutually respectful relationships with adults. International research demonstrates that youth clubs have a unique role and should be valued and supported to make a difference in the lives of all members of the community.
The club environment is a place for young people to develop new skills, try out new things, where they can be judged differently from school or at home, where their talents and idiosyncrasies can be appreciated, or, alternatively, a place where they can simply have fun.
Club Activities
Participants in the youth programme are exposed to programmes such as drug awareness, HIV/AIDS awareness, ADR (alternative dispute resolute), drama, cultural activities, outreach programmes, feeding schemes, fund-raising, school holiday programmes, Ubuntu, teenage pregnancy.
The leadership and project management skills the youth will acquire as a result of the formalized training they receive puts them in good stead for potential income generation once they leave schoo
Estimated Reach
It is estimated that each club will register approximately 30 members. Group sessions will be attended by 30 youth at a time.
Based on current experience these youth, operational within the community in their groups, are capable of reaching between 1,000 and 2,000 members of their communities respectively.
Sustainability
Once each youth group has been established and has developed project plans, it is the intention that they are linked with mentors from local business/communities in each of their areas.
Key areas where clubs are operational
§ KwaZulu Natal: Midlands; Durban; Phoenix; Northern Natal
§ Western Cape
§ Throughout the North West Province
§ Gauteng
