SOUTH AFRICA

Statistics from: http://devdata.worldbank.org/data-query/

The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest and least well served regions of South Africa. The communities in which SPW works are disadvantaged and under-resourced; schools are not integrated into the community and unemployment is high at around 80%, providing little incentive for young people to finish school.

The Response:

• SPW South Africa is one of only a few organisations working specifically in remote rural communities in the Eastern Cape, and is therefore uniquely positioned to facilitate the provision of services and information from other, normally urban-based NGOs. SPW's community-based programme provides a vital link between communities and local services, working closely with both in and out-of-school youth, community groups, churches, local clinics and a wide variety of district government departments and locally based NGOs. Working as “peer educators”, volunteers raise awareness of health and resource issues that affect the lives of young people in rural communities. These include HIV/AIDS awareness, teenage pregnancy, sex and sexuality, health promotion, hygiene and nature conservation. Volunteers also help community members to initiate income-generating projects.

Key Achievements:

• SPW South Africa is working to establish five Youth Development Centres (YDCs) in selected rural communities in which we already work. The aim is for the YDCs to compliment the SPW Community Health Education Programme.
• Following extensive community sensitisation, existing buildings have been identified and agreements signed for their use as YDCs in all 5 districts. Two buildings have been renovated and are ready for use and work is about to begin on the remaining three. YDC Officers have been recruited in two communities, and interviews have taken place in the remaining three. As each YDC becomes operational, training and capacity building activities will be initiated, and various outreach and income generating activities will be implemented.
• Successful partnerships have been established with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Local Ward Councillors in each regions, the Eastern Cape Youth Commission, loveLife, Department of Education, PPASA (Peddie), and Phakamani Youth Development Centre. These partnerships will lead to enhanced service provision and provision of materials at the YDCs.

Case Study – Intra-School Awareness Day

Volunteers from 7 communities in the Eastern Cape organised a weekend programme of events focusing on HIV/AIDS, unplanned pregnancy, drugs and corporal punishment. Each community sent pupils from the local school. This comprised a choir, a drama group and netball and football teams. The first day saw competitions for the drama groups and choirs, with all the songs and plays having a health focus. The Sunday programme was for sport, with football and netball tournaments. This event was a huge success in raising awareness of issues and building pupil's confidence.

Partner Organisations

• Conservation, Food and Health Foundation
• FNB Fund
• Lovelife
• National Association of People Living with AIDS (NAPWA)
• SBF Foundation
• Treatment Action Campaign
• UNFPA
• Vodafone Foundation
• W K Kellogg Foundation