The Gauteng Department of Social Development has shined a light of hope to the youth who cannot be reunited with their families after exiting its Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) across the province, that they will not be left stranded.
This comes after Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Ms Mbali Hlophe launched a cutting-edge Masihambisane Independent Living Programme, which seeks to empower the youth in CYCCs, aged between 18 to 21 years, with skills and job readiness programmes that will assist them to be able to survive after exiting its care facilities.
The Department, in partnership with Inqaba Yokulinda NPO will work together to implement the programme that will see hundreds of young people actively participating in economic opportunities such as information and communication technology (ICT), CISCO training, farming, agro processing, hair and beauty therapy to name a few.
Care facilities in Gauteng were already implementing the independent living programme, however, the approved Masihambisane Independent Living Programme will enhance the current efforts through interventions that will be an add-on to the concept, and the broadening of partnerships to ensure youth exiting CYCCs do not feel alone in their journey of independence.
Speaking at Mary Moodley CYCC in Benoni yesterday, MEC Hlophe said she was happy to close off Youth Month by launching a cutting-edge programme.
“Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, always talks about how we must protect young people, who are the future of this nation. So, our CYCCs are extremely important. They provide safe spaces for young people who find themselves in environments that are not conducive.”
“We need to instil and allow them to break off the shackles of the past. As the Department of Social Development, we don’t want our children to feel secondary neglect when they turn 18 years. In fact, we must help them get on their feet,” said MEC Hlophe.
The Department, through its Sustainable Livelihoods Directorate, is committed to fighting poverty and delivering a variety of services through different programmes to the identified beneficiaries in partnership with NPOs.
One such beneficiary, who went through the independent living programme is Mr August Khumalo, a former resident at Mary Moodley Child and Youth Care Centre based in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.
The 27-year-old from Daveyton is now a proud founder of God’s Grace Foundation which helps children to identify and nature their talents.
“I arrived at Mary Moodley CYCC as a young boy, and they gave me the love I never experienced before in my life. They gave me proper education until I passed my Matric in 2015,” added Khumalo.
He was honoured with The President’s Award for his competence in horse riding, martial arts, rowing, and poetry during his time at the centre. The award is bestowed to South Africans between the ages of 14 and 24, to enable them to become responsible active citizens.
