Youth in Action Project
Youth in Action is a cultural exchange project with a difference.
‘Challenged to Take Control’
‘Youth in Action’ is a cultural exchange project with a difference. It involves bringing together young people from schools in North Somerset and Bristol with a youth group from the Nkomazi Region of Mpumalanga, South Africa. The young South Africans are part of a community-based organisation called ‘Thembalethu’ (meaning ‘our hope’).
Thembalethu operates in an area with one of the highest HIV infection rates in the world. It provides support to 4.5 thousand orphans whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. The young people from Thembalethu engage in a range of activities designed to create local employment opportunities and bring a sense of purpose to their lives. Their motto is ‘challenged to take control’ and their message is something by which all young people will be inspired.
A group of about 15 young people from Thembalethu who belong to a performing group will participate in the project. They use performance as a means of communicating important messages about HIV and AIDs. They will also work with young people locally in a variety of workshops on African dance, music and culture. An example of the talented young Africans that will be coming can be viewed at www.thembalethu.org
, then click on Youth in Action, scroll down and click on the ‘Wanna be Stars’ video!
How will this benefit the local community?
There are a range of benefits to the local community, e.g. North Somerset is an area with limited cultural diversity. This will promote contact and greater understanding between young people whose lives are extremely different. Apart from a greater appreciation of international cultural diversity, this will raise awareness of local diversity by bringing together young people from inner Bristol and North Somerset with those from Thembalethu. It will also raise awareness of HIV and AIDS which is on the increase in young people in the UK, along with a range of other sexually transmitted diseases. The message of the young South Africans- ‘challenged to take control’- will also provide a positive example to youngsters in the UK facing the prospect of economic uncertainties.
What does the project involve?
The project organisers are working in close collaboration with local schools, churches and youth groups to arrange a programme of workshops and performance-based activities. The visit will take place during the last two weeks of June 2009.
Both primary and secondary school children will benefit from performances and interaction with the young people from South Africa. In the wider community, a series of concerts are planned that will be open to the general public. Donations received, from these concerts, will be used to benefit Thembalethu.
How will it be funded?
The two week visit will cost approximately £20,000, including flights, travel, subsistence, transportation and excursions for 15 young people and 2 mentors from South Africa.
Funds will be raised for the project via a combination of activities including:
- Fund-raising in collaboration with local schools, churches and youth groups
- Seeking grant funding from charitable organisations
- Donations from individuals (via collection boxes and the Bella Natura website, www.bellanatura.co.uk)
- Donations from organisations (i.e. in the form of discounted goods, services in kind, donated goods and services, etc)
Any funds raised that are not directly required for the visit will be donated to Thembalethu.
How can you help?
If you would like to make a donation or could help in some other way, please contact the project organisers:
Jayne Morris-Thurgood Mob: 07976666019
Dawn Snape Mob: 07522544006
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