War-Against-Poverty-through-Enterprise-Development

With the rise on the rate of unemployment and effects of the dismally failing economy at the brink of a third recession, South Africa has major and vast array of issues to address during times like these…of intense difficulty. Especially for the youth living in a 22-year-old democracy facing issues dire and silent with visible effects that has led to SA Mental Health & Medical Research Institutions to declare that 1/3 of the whole population is depressed.

As a youth… I, myself grew up under the motivation of being told that “Education is the key to success” but reality that never reaches mainstream media and worldwide community is that this has become an idle belief. Friends and myself got ourselves educated and barely out of graduation… most big companies that helped sustain the economy started liquidating as a result of foreign investors and local investors running abroad for more lucrative prospects.

There is 96% bad publicity in the media about youth being obnoxious, unpleasant, intolerable, vile, loathsome, irresponsible, revolting, involved in drugs, crime and displeasing behaviours that lead to a spectacle of problems etc. The Government has built and funded countless initiatives that have good reputation on paper but sad reality is that they are either run by corrupt officials who give false reports about progress where there is none, thereafter limiting youth access to government services and programs that could make us youth economically active.

I built this campaign because myself and a few friends who have education and multiple skills (Unemployed) have decided to take initiative and morph out the status-quo, limiting beliefs we have been fed and dependency syndrome associated with pointing fingers at the Government or anyone. That the problems we face are ours, and we will own it and make visible change. All it will take is dedication, resilience and tenacity.

All these qualities and skills (Like being able to program computer software etc.) are good to have but 75% of University Graduates and youth who could not reach that far are unemployed and are experiencing the same problems along with over 60% of the whole population living in poverty and less aesthetically pleasing sites… and we have been discussing solutions as such.

Our focus currently is making a difference in Soweto Townships where the population has reached a staggering 4.2 million people in less than 800 000 households. 68% of this is Youth, Women and Children. People are moving from rural areas into cities because they try to run from poverty and have access to better opportunities like healthcare and employment opportunities to support families.

There are idle properties around Soweto, Johannesburg… that were previously used as school premises and we want to use these… be renovated and have technologies installed to teach business skills, after school programs which include education mostly and assist in establishing operative business models we can incubate in the same centres starting with one.

Therefore, we plead to the international community for help in monetary donations or in-kind to kick-start this initiative so we can break the cycle of social dysfunction surrounding youth.

Thank you in advance for taking time to evaluate how this initiative has potential to change and improve lives.