Siyakhanya (We shine together)

The work of Siyakhanya is based in the rural area of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa, where there is widespread drought and destitution. Siyakhanya has raised funds to enable partner ACAT to run three further community led Youth Basic Life Skills courses, which aim to address the vulnerability of young people in KwaZulu-Natal: the region faces a youth development crisis, marked by high unemployment (45.5%), poverty, and limited education & skills training. Rural areas offer few economic opportunities, leading to drug abuse, crime, human trafficking, and high HIV & AIDS rates.

Teenage pregnancies are alarmingly high. In a context where so many young people are discouraged and turn to sex, substance abuse and crime, the courses aim to provide information and guidance for wise decisions and to give hope. So, the emphasis is on HIV and sexual and reproductive health, careers guidance, and gender-based violence and abuse, as well as introducing the Bible and what it says about keys to life. This year Siyakhanya hopes to fund an Integrated Livelihoods Programme. This is an approach developed by ACAT from decades of experience in “grass roots” based community development.

Through a structure of trained area committee members and community volunteers, members of a community mobilise themselves into groups of 5 (G5s) to provide mutual support in new income-generating activities. Skills are transferred to the G5 by representative attendance on training courses, and from the committee members and volunteers, through workshops, home visits and local meetings, many on “sector-specific” topics such as fruit trees or livestock. ILPalso promotes Savings and Loans Groups which enable members to gain access to capital needed to start their businesses. Amanda Arthurton is donations secretary.