Light for the youth
2009-10-29
Liezl Dyson
AT the blue and yellow building in Celiwe Street in Mbekweni you can hear the sound of children playing, laughing and a ping-pong sound that tells you that someone is enjoying a game of table tennis. The Lukhanyo Youth Development Organisation, an organisation that strives to give hope and to uplift the youth and the community in Mbekweni, not only feeds more than 300 children at a time, but also offers them the chance to reach for their dreams. The organisation, which is located in Silver Town, offers a wide range of activities to the youth and gives them the chance to explore their talents. As I enter the building to meet with Sydwell Magqazana, the co-ordinator of Lukhanyo, I am greeted by a group of young girls skipping and older boys enjoying a friendly game of table tennis. Sydwell talks with passion about Lukhanyo, which he launched to keep the youth off the street and to try to influence them positively in an area that was known as “the headquarter for criminals”. “People were robbed daily in Silwer Town, there were burglaries and people were raped. I pleaded with criminals to stop what they were doing, in vain. “I then decided to talk to some of them and find out why they were victimising people - I found that poverty played a big role, it still does today.” Sydwell decided to involve other community members in his vision to create a better life for the youth of Mbekweni to show them that crime is not the only option. “We launched an arts and culture programme where the children can learn how to explore their talents and at the same time be taken off the streets by doing something constructive with their lives.” It was very difficult for them to get a place where they could offer the programmes: “No-one wanted to help, because in those days people believed that nothing good could come from Silver Town.” They first started out in a backyard shack, but are now renting a building that was previously used for a pre-school. The children at the centre learn different kinds of dances, take part in drama, singing and play table tennis. The drama students are currently busy practising for their play which will be staged on 6, 7, 13 and 14 November. The play is about frustrations, dreams, about choices for right or wrong. It is also about poverty and perspective, about Xhosa culture as well as modern life and about differences and unity. The production will be in English. The stage is made from pallets donated by Cape Agri. Since August, 14 youths aged between 13 and 23 have worked to produce the play, with the assistance of a Dutch benefactor, Frank van Berkum. “Although the organisation is still very small there is a very sound basis for development and growth, and the children have lots of potential,” says Frank, who works as a manager in organisational development and urban development in the Netherlands. Frank came to South Africa in August and has been working with the organisation to help them spread their wings. He came into contact with Lukhanyo through the Dutch non-profit organisation Small Change. The people of Small Change were involved in the film shoot for the Dutch television production ‘Stellenbosch’, and Lukhanyo played a part in the recruitment of local actors. After this co-operation, the partnership was established in 2007. “It is now about going outside and establishing good relationships with the rest of the world.” According to Sydwell, Berg River Textiles has adopted them as their charity organisation and in return the youths educate their workers about HIV/Aids in the form of plays. They have also formed a partnership with Monte Christo Ministries which helped them to start a feeding project. “We started out distributing groceries to the community and in 2007 we started a soup and bread project that is still running today. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we feed between 200 and 330 children at the centre. Small Change also contributes to the feeding project.” Three table tennis tables were also donated to Lukhanyo and in 2008 they received bicycles for students that take art classes at the Breytenbach Centre in Wellington to get to their classes. Sydwell teaches the youth not to be beggars, but to offer something in return: “With the organisations we work with, we always give something back. We would like to involve the whole community and bring back lost values.” According to Sydwell they would like to modernise and extend the centre, especially to fit in with the different programs that they offer. “We are excited, we have lots of things in mind for the people of Mbekweni.” For more information about Lukhanyo Youth Development, contact Sydwell Magqazana on 083-373-7337 or visit www.lukhanyo.org.
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