Cape Town - In an area plagued by rampant crime and gang violence, the Centre of Excellence, a youth development hub in Bishop Lavis, is working twice as hard to redress and save youngsters from such social ills.
Established in November last year, the centre is a space for up-skilling and is committed to bringing education as a key focus to the youth of Bishop Lavis and surrounding areas.
The centre boasts an array of development programmes, including education services in the form of career orientation/further educational training, learnerships, computer classes, peer education, life coaching and mentoring.
It also offers music workshops where seasoned musicians are brought in to run these for free, GBV awareness and self-defence workshops, different sporting codes and other activities.
Founder Wesley Moodley said that in just under a year of existence the activities offered at the centre had positively touched and transformed the lives of more than 2 500 people, mostly the youths.
“Our centre is at the heart of an area that is one of the hardest hit by crime activities, drug and substance abuse, as well as domestic and other societal ills.
“Through development programmes offered at the centre that are designed to build morality and shape destinies, we creatively keep the youth busy and empowered to rise above all the circumstances presented before them,” he said.
Moodley said the centre prides itself on being a space and home to those who need to gain skills and knowledge that they cannot afford.
It had also installed a responsible and accountable community of tomorrow that leads the process of safety of the people.
Moodley said youth and community development was at the heart of society and central to nation building.
“Through life skills programmes and forging partnerships with education programmes in further education and higher education, social development services, health, safety and security and other stakeholders at our disposal, the centre strives to draw the attention of the youth to living a positive life that prepares them for a better future.
“Thereby, it diminishes any opportunity for them to be involved in crime, or drug and substance abuse, but rather shape them for the better,” he said.
While the community managed to put together the centre within a year and without funding, Moodley said they were looking for donors to fund the programmes offered to ensure maximum reach. Moodley can be reached on wesleym@centreofexcellence.org.za or 074 918 3252.
mthuthuzeli.ntseku@inl.co.za
The Cape Argus Starfish project aims to help encourage young people to steer away from crime. The project offers a platform for individuals and organisations to tell our readers what they do to empower the youth, and to share their knowledge. Email us at arglet@inl.co.za