SERVICE PROGRAMMES » YOUTH LEADERSHIP & TRAINING PROGRAMME
Breath Water Sound | Service Projects | MyVillage Support
The success of any development program depends strongly on having a capable leadership and a motivated taskforce. The Youth Leadership Training Project (YLTP) imparts in-depth training to disadvantaged youth that encompasses their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual development, making them motivated leaders of their communities.
At YLTP youth are trained in a number of areas such as health, hygiene, education and solid waste management. In turn, the youth become responsible for educating their communities with their acquired knowledge and skills that the community to identify problems their solutions. These young leaders go back to their communities and initiate and accelerate the implementation of the 5H programme. They are role models committed to channelling their energy and talents into mobilising and strengthening people to work towards fulfilling their own community's needs. They unite the community in service.
YLTP was implemented for the first time in South Africa in 2004 as the Saka iSouth Africa project. After passing the interview and selction process 68 youth enrolled for the first phase of the training. On this 10-day residental training programme the values of self-motivation, self-dicipline, service to the community, community empowerment and related issues were fostered. The youth were also trained in leadership skills, communication skills, confidence building, strengthening emotional development, personal development (meditation, yoga and stress management) and music and celebration as part of daily living.
The enthusiasm and confidence that the programme develops is the key to transformation.
An important component of the programme is that youth are trained to teach the Breath Water Sound workshop.
Youth were then monitored for a period of 8 weeks. Field training takes place during this time where they work in their own areas. Depending on their commitment and dedication youth were selected for the phase 2 of the programme. In Phase 2, a 10-day residential programme, problem solving skills, interpersonal skills and verious management techniques where tought. There was an emphasis on the development of human resources as well as sustainable economic development. This phase also covered vocational training which included project management, recycling, aids awareness, permaculture food gardens, proposal writing, principals of democracy and waste management.
40 youth graduated as empowered youth leaders.