Youth and After School Programme Office

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER JULY 2021 Greetings from the Youth and After School Programme Office. This quarter has been a busy one. As we grapple with the impacts of COVID-19 we have all been affected in some way. We have seen family, friends and colleagues becoming ill and in some cases we may have lost someone dear to us. Schooling and our work environments have been disrupted forcing us to adapt and innovate. As we face the third wave we all need to play our part to keep those around us safe. Please remember to mask up and avoid crowded places, confined spaces and close contact. If you are 35+ please register for the vaccine and help others over 35 to register and be vaccinated.

Learners across the world have been key victims of the COVID pandemic. Unequal access and education disparity, stark before After School COVID, have worsened. Researchers believe it will take us ten years to recoup the learning losses experienced by most children News as a result of the lockdown caused by the pandemic. As we all grapple with how we can contribute to closing this gap, we are called upon to think differently about education. Educators need to rethink how they teach. Addressing this crisis cannot be left to schools alone. Everyone in the education eco-system needs to act. Parents and caregivers should be more involved in their children’s education. NGOs and After School Programmes have to be stepped up to help accelerate learning. Read more on why After School Programmes are so important in the three new publications appearing in the Knowledge Hub.

Knowledge Hub Our Partners

The ASP Research Symposium last year signaled an exciting step for the sector as we move towards building a richer, deeper localised evidence base supporting the impact of ASPs.

Masiphumelele Case Study In May 2021 one of our key partners, Stakeholders in the The Learning After School space Trust, released an have had to to be important piece innovative in response of advocacy to COVID. research entitled After School Visit www.enriched.co.za/publications Programmes in to read about the community of : An Masiphumele’s innovative efforts during Investment Case. lockdown and understand the impact of our High School Academic Programme To read click here. and how partners responded to COVID.

Projects Keep an eye out on social Save media and watch your inbox for the launch of Lights on the Date! After School South Africa. For more information visit: 28 October 2021 www.enriched.co.za/lights-on-campaign

Aft Capacity Building We have hosted two successful After After School Learning Lab School Basic Training programmes in George and Plettenberg Bay this quarter. Join us for our first Practitioner Community of Practice Upcoming training (now renamed the After School The Youth and After School Programme Office Learning Lab). in Partnership with ASSITEJ SA will be hosting a virtual training programme targeted at After These Learning Labs are an School practitioners. opportunity for peer networking, The “Creating thriving After School knowledge sharing and skills environments” programme will consist of 3 development. virtual workshops. 26 August 2021 | 10:00–11:30: Creating thriving school environments After School Learning Lab 16 September 2021 | 10:00-11:30: Date: 29 July 2021 Ice-breakers and energisers in the COVID Time: 10:00–11:30 context Theme: Supporting learning at home 7 October 2021 | 10:00–11:30: To RSVP click here. Games for focus and mindfulness To Register click here.

@afterschoolWC

As we commemorate Youth Month we are excited to report on YearBeyond’s expansion – both programmatically and YearBeyond geographically. The plight of South Africa’s youth was dire before COVID-19, but the pandemic has further exacerbated News the youth crisis. Unemployment has risen to a staggering 63.3% and over two-thirds of the youth have reported that they have experienced some form of depression. Now more than ever young people need access to work opportunities, mentoring and personal and professional development to launch their careers. Note: Also see what the YeBoneers on our different streams had to say about what Youth Day means to them and why it’s important.

201 880 11 000+ OUR IMPACT sites youth learners

WEST KAROO

COAST scouting in schools CAPE

WINELANDS data administration CAPE academic METRO support GARDEN ROUTE/ EDEN @homelearning

OVERBERG 1000 stories library project

Sinayo Phike, Scouting in Schools Programme “For me Youth Day reminds us of the power of the youth and that with unity amongst the youth anything is possible. Looking back at the youth of 1976s determination even under dire circumstances, we are encouraged to possess those similar qualities of resilience and strong will in times of hardships. Youth Day reminds of us the sacrifices made by others for us and the generations to come for a better future which sparks a spirit of pride and joy of the struggle by being grateful and appreciative of the opportunities granted to us today, and to also accept the responsibilities that come with these privileges. Today, we are also encouraged to proudly take a stand against injustices we are exposed to just like the youth of 1976.”

1000 Stories Library Project

The 1000 stories programme places unemployed youth working with the libraries in Theewaterskloof to develop a love of reading. Almost three quarters of children in SA and over half of children in the cannot read for meaning by the age of ten. This programme aims to strengthen the role of libraries in the national reading drive. It aims to ensure children access 100 stories a year from birth and have read 1000 stories by the age of ten. The youth will champion this drive by reading 20 stories a week to children in their towns. Children will collect stamps each time they listen to a story. Regular participation in story time will enable them to enter draws for prizes and eventually obtain their readers’ license. After a successful orientation, YeBoneers have already embarked on their journey as Reading Champions at the local libraries in the towns of Grabouw, Villiersdorp, Caledon, Greyton, Botrivier, Genadendal, Tesselaarsdal and Riviersonderend.

Leneathe Koortzen, 1000 Stories Library Project “Youth Day means something special to me. It’s a day where we celebrate the lives of students who stood up for themselves. This was the day where thousands of students were ambushed by the regime. And from that day we as South Africans pay tribute to the lives of those and recognises the role of youth. The way the students stood up for themselves makes me feel more powerful. Nothing should stand in your way of becoming successful. You shouldn’t be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. When God’s with you, no one can be against you.”

@HomeLearning Programme

YearBeyond WCED @HomeLearning is a partnership between YearBeyond and the Western Cape Education Department, the Western Cape Department of Economic Development, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, schools and NGOs under the leadership of Hope through Action. The WCED @HomeLearning roll- out follows a very successful pilot programme that engaged 59 interns working in five hubs linked to eighteen schools, supported by three organisations. The 2021 programme is now working in eight hubs linked to 32 schools and supported by five partner organisations. The roll-out has extended from the Winelands District areas of , , East, Cloetesville and to also include , , Goudini, Slanghoek and Bonnievale – and is piloting in the West Coast District in Malmesbury. The NGO implementing partners are Hope Through Action (working with SCORE), Khula Development Group, Love to Give, Bonnievale 418 and MathMoms. In addition to working with learners, the youth, or YeBoneers, also visit families to facilitate @HomeLearning and link families in need to other services. .

Jo-anne Zikhona Mahlekwa, @HomeLearning “This special day is in remembrance of the day that Hector Pietersen and all others sacrificed their lives. This day symbolises equality and the fight for a better education for all. Whenever this day comes around I feel very sad but also relieved that we as today’s youth don’t have to go through all that hurt and pain to reach our goal when it comes to education.”

Culture Camps Huge Success

COVID has affected us all in so many ways. YeBoneers are introduced to the Head For YearBeyond it has limited engagement Office team, empowered with tools to in geographic clusters so therefore at support their personal and professional camp, the YeBoneers, have a chance to journey and given a chance to showcase meet their peers in the movement as well their talents. as the broader YeBo network. In the words of a YeBoneer: “It’s amazing to see a family of strangers come together, To address this YearBeyond hosted seven create, organise and execute such an Culture Camps for YeBoneers in the exquisite gathering... definitely ready for Academic stream. Each event is a three- this YearBeyond journey.” day residential meeting of YeBoneers across sites in pods of 80–90 youth to See more on the Camp highlights here. ensure COVID compliance.

Damian Gilbert, Data Administration Programme “Celebrating Youth Day and youth month is important because it reminds us of the sacrifices made by many young people who have come before us. The events of June 16 must also be remembered as a day of courage and fortitude. Today our role is to take that mission forward and continue to contribute to change. Education is a tool that can change generations for many years to come.”

Update on Presidential Youth Initiative

On 16 June President Ramaphosa launched the National Pathway Management Network to provide workseekers with a range of support. The SA Youth Mobi platform provides young workseekers with information and access to work and learning opportunities as well as support in person and online to a basic package of services, work readiness training and employment matching. To access the portal visit SaYouth.mobi Secondly, skills training to ensure that young people are able to access jobs in key growth sectors is being revamped. Thirdly the Presidency will support entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive in townships, villages and urban centres by removing regulatory obstacles and creating an enabling environment.

Youth Explorer A new and expanded version of Youth Explorer was also launched on Youth Day. This now includes information on government services and the well-being of the youth as well as other relevant services for the youth. Explore the tool by visiting www.youthexplorer. org.za

Sizwe Myataza, Academic Programme “Youth Day means that we should honour the sacrifices that the youth of 1976 believed in. It means that we should not only commemorate these sacrifices, but we must not let them be in vain by ensuring that the next generation to come also have these privileges that the youth fought and lost their lives for.”

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about what we do, please visit our websites www.yearbeyond.org and www.enriched.co.za or call us on 021 483 9844.