Help Empower Our Young People

Eldorado Park Secondary School in Eldorado Park, Kliptown, Gauteng is to host the Communities and Justice programme at their school, beginning in July 2017. The school, centrally located in Eldorado Park, a largely socio-economically impoverished area where school students encounter a myriad of associated challenges on a daily basis.

The Communities and Justice programme has been designed to build upon the work of those institutions within the criminal justice system wishing to improve communication with and involvement of local communities. Equally, it assists the recipients of the programme, in this case young people aged between 14 - 19 years, to better understand the workings of a system that will inevitably impact upon either themselves, their friends or family at some stage of their life. In addition to empowering young people it also helps young people to not only understand their rights but also those responsibilities that inevitably must accompany their rights.

With your donation, together we can play an important role in helping empower young people living in one of South Africa's more disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Our intervention is designed to assist young people to make informed choices, leading to a better tomorrow.

involve is a registered ‘non-profit’ organisation NPC reg. 2015/317433/08, based in Johannesburg, South Africa. www.2involve.org.za

Director, Paul Wilson, is a retired Metropolitan Police (London, UK) Superintendent.

The purpose of this crowdfund is to finance an after school programme entitled ‘Communities & Justice’ to be introduced into Eldorado Park Secondary School, Kliptown, Johannesburg, one of South Africa’s more disadvantaged areas.

Developed by Paul Wilson the programme is designed to give young people a unique insight into the workings of South Africa’s criminal justice system. The programme is envisaged to assist the participants to acquire knowledge on basic information regarding the functioning of the South African criminal Justice system: the policies that regulate the various law enforcement agents in the execution of their duties: the rights and responsibilities of individuals in their interaction with the law enforcement agents equip the participants with skills to enable them to engage meaningfully; hold the service providers accountable and to participate optimally in community based crime prevention initiatives.

The programme seeks to dispel myths the communities may hold about the criminal justice system by exposing participants to facilities such as police stations, magistrates' courts and correctional facilities for experiential learning.

Communities & Justice Programme

Participants: 40

Location: School classroom and offsite visits

Length of modules: 90 minutes

Frequency of modules: One per week

Visiting speakers: Each module is comprised of a subject pertaining to the criminal justice system. Speakers are drawn from the criminal justice system and provide a workshop scenario where students are involved in the subject matter through discussion and or role-play.

Police demonstrate arrest and search procedures

Time: Immediately following end of academic day

Total number of modules: Eight

Outcome: Following participation in all of the Communities & Justice modules, the student will have achieved an understanding of:

Ø the rudiments of criminal law

Ø the functions of the police including power of arrest, search and seizure.

Ø Road traffic legislation and road safety

Ø the role of the National Prosecuting Authority

Ø the function and powers of the Magistrates Court,

Ø the role of the defence Attorney

Ø the purpose of Correctional Services

Ø a first hand account of life inside a correctional service institution

The Communities & Justice programme concludes with a graduation ceremony for all participants. This will usually take place at a nearby community hall or other similar venue. Students are encouraged to invite parents and or relatives to the ceremony where community representatives, politicians, criminal justice officials and others will witness the presentation of certificates of achievement to all successful students.
Chief Superintendent Wayne Minaar from Johannesburg Metro Police presenting a certificate to student
.............................................................................................

The certificates are usually presented by senior officials from the criminal justice system. Keynote speakers will often be drawn from the senior ranks of the Criminal Justice system.



Financing the Communities & Justice Programme

Donations will be used to finance:

1. Food/refreshments for the 40 learners in each class over the eight modules. The students will commence the Communities and Justice module immediately following the end of their academic day therefore it is incumbent upon us to ensure the students are appropriately refreshed during the workshop.

2. Coach transport (40 students) to and from off-site visits i.e Magistrates' Court and Correctional centre.

3. Transport for class facilitator. For safety reasons this can involve hire car costs as given the materials carried by the facilitator, public transport is considered inappropriate.

4. Independent evaluation of each programme.

5. Transport costs for organisers to meet with all concerned stakeholders in order to prepare workshop leaders/speakers and offsite arrangements i.e magistrates' court and correctional centre.

6. Preparation, design, printing and laminating of all certificates of achievement.

7. Transport costs regarding sourcing a suitable venue for end of programme graduation ceremony.

8. Hire of graduation venue

9. Professional photographer at graduation ceremony

10. Catering staff, hire of cutlery, plates etc for graduation ceremony.

11. Food and refreshments for students, relatives and community guests at graduation ceremony

12. Appreciation gifts for speakers/workshop leaders and student winners of programme essay competition.

13. Reasonable daily expenses for volunteer organisers both prior to and during programme.


Why Eldorado Park?

Eldorado Park is a Township (suburb) with a population of about 80,000. It is near to Johannesburg but is undoubtedly an area beset with a host of deep-rooted historical social problems that seem to grow ever more acute as the years progress.

As you walk into the Rafferty family yard in Eldorado Park, you are first greeted by six shacks standing side by side, with more than 20 children playing in the front.Each of the shacks is designated to house between six and 10 families, with only one toilet to share.

Unemployment among young people is estimated at 70%, crimes of all description are commonplace. Young people travelling to and from school have to run a daily gauntlet of gangs, drugs, prostitution and sexual predators. Their problems do not cease once they reach school as classroom violence, intimidation, bullying and sexual harassment are common occurrences within many school environments. In May of this year the Eldorado Park community’s pent up frustration at a lack of local services such as decent housing provision and employment opportunities, along with a distrust of the police, finally exploded into violence on the street.

Young people already vulnerable on route to school had to now cope with rubber bullets and stun grenades as police sought to quell the street rioting. Calm has now returned to the area, local and national politicians have once more promised to look at the grievances so ferociously expressed during and immediately after the disturbances. Life for young people in Eldorado Park is undoubtedly grim and full of challenges that are alien to many South Africans.