PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2010 Legacy: Youth Zones

A 2010 Youth Zones Legacy Project

The legacy of 2010 is being established through a unique concept called Youth Zones. This 2010 World Cup holds great significance for Africa, and a group of individuals and organisations are working hard to ensure that some of the excitement of 2010 is transformed into a sustainable commitment to social development. The programme presently operates in 13 disadvantaged areas, these sites include: Mamelodi, Cosmo City, Phuthaditjhaba, Upington, Evaton North, Somerset West, Mogwase, Umzimkhulu, Mutare (Zimbabwe), Manica(Mozambique), Somerset East, Siyabuswa and Jane Furse.

A collaborative initiative involving FSSA, the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa Organising Committee (LOC), the Embassy of the Netherlands and Idasa, has given birth to this ambitious endeavour.

At each of the 13 youth zones there are three main projects;

·        Football

·        Computer literacy

·        Life-skills.

The football focus aims to build the capacity of grass-root teams and support them with football equipment, coaching and organisational growth.

The IT focus is to teach youth how to use a computer and provide participants with internet access so they can have all the educational benefits of the internet, often in areas where there are no libraries or access to information.

The Life-skills focus is on all those attributes that make an individual successful in life: communication, conflict resolution, teamwork, responsibility, health and leadership.

In addition, each community is encouraged to launch three ‘organic’ projects with their own initiative. Some of these small projects include netball, culture, HIV-Aids, gymnasium, English, entrepreneurship and many more. The relevance of these projects is to create an enabling environment where youths have the self-belief and confidence to take risks and be creative.

Numerous partners have joined forces to ensure that there will be a legacy after the 2010 Fifa World Cup: Torque IT, Kelly Group, Microsoft, Convergence Partners, SAB, ABI, Khulisa, Fevertree and Heartlines.

Making a sustainable difference in the lives of vulnerable youths is critical; underpinned by the belief that no one is born a criminal. The challenge is to prevent those who born into “victim” circumstances from becoming “offenders”. Making “choice” available in these circumstances can transform lives away from crime to real and legitimate opportunity.

Project Lead Roelf Meyer is passionate about this approach: “We promote safety by proactively investing in society, by stopping crime, before it happens.”

How exactly is football used as an agent for social change? “The football teams are what counts. Its not about just kicking a ball, its about the social relations inherent in a team, the family dynamic that provides energy, support and accountability; that’s why we use football and even netball teams to learn and become change agents in their communities” says Schalk van Heerden (Project Coordinator). The approach is built on a relational model where friendships form the foundation for sustainable actions and programmes.

The progamme operates in the first sites where the LOC built high-level synthetic football pitches. Consequently, the improved football infrastructure is accompanied by improved human capacity and skills.

Once real-life friendships have been established and computer literacy is in place, the focus shifts to a virtual community, where besides Skype, Facebook and email, participants interact on the www.youthzones.co.za website. Here they are encouraged to blog, upload photos, chat and to share both stories of hope and of failure. “Any person can join, boys, girls from any place, its very interesting knowing we are not alone in our struggles and dreams” says Nelson Veremo, one of the members on the website. Participants learn practical things from one another, points Doctor Mabila from Idasa: “these youngsters are proud to share their stories and instead of being xenophobic, they like to learn from one another.”

It is our hope that when Brazil happens in 2014, people will ask what legacy did the South African Fifa World Cup leave behind for ordinary South Africans?

Our answer will be that through the involvement of thousands of South Africans, rich, poor, black or white in the Youth Zone Network we will be able to show that shared humanity, mutual learning and care can indeed deliver the diversity and hope of a rainbow nation.

* We invite young and old from all socio economic backgrounds to become involved, through site visits, material support or correspondence. Visit www.youthzones.co.za or contact Elmien at edurieux@idasa.org.za if you would like to become involved.