For the past two
months I, along with Arlene, Ben, and Rachel, have had the privilege of working
at Yabonga—a non-governmental organization supporting people directly affected
by or living with HIV. Although Yabonga
has support centers in twelve township communities around Cape Town, we were
based in Khayelitsha at the Youth Centre that opened just over a year ago. The
Youth Centre is an extension of the orphans and vulnerable children’s program
and allows the youth to continue to be a part of the Yabonga community as they
grow up. The youth programs offer a variety of activities tailored to high
school age students including support groups, individual and group counseling,
HIV education, academic assistance, career guidance, as well as activities
centering around music, arts and sports. Through these programs students learn
important life skills focusing on communication, confidence, and teamwork.
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| Rachel, Arlene, and I with some of the gap years! |
During our time at Yabonga we were
able to take part in a variety of activities, programs, and special events;
however, our main focus was on the higher education and career guidance
workshop that we planned, organized, and lead alongside Yabonga’s gap year
students. The higher education and career guidance workshop’s primary objectives
are to inform students of their opportunities for higher education and
potential career options, as well as discuss the necessary steps to take in
order for them reach their education and career goals. Unfortunately, the high
schools that these students of Yabonga attend do not currently offer any
counseling or information regarding higher education or career opportunities
and therefore are often unaware of the necessary coursework, deadlines, and
marks required for admission into higher education programs and jobs. During
this workshop students participate in a number of educational activities,
information sessions, group discussions, and student panels specifically aimed
to address this crucial need for information and guidance for students to know
how and when to apply for higher education and bursaries and understand exactly
what they need to be doing to fulfill requirements, meet expectations, and
ultimately achieve their goals. The fact that we get to spend so much time with
the gap years and work directly with them on this project really makes our time
at Yabonga so special.
Over the course of the summer we
were fortunate enough to have some of our days at Yabonga coincide with
national holidays making for particularly memorable events. The first was Youth
Day—a celebration that commemorates the brave students that protested education
laws during apartheid in 1976. The most fun part of the day was getting to
watch everyone practice. The gap years literally brainstormed ideas for their
program, choreographed a 15 minute singing, dancing, drama skit combination,
and had it basically perfected in an hour. They are the most talented group of
people I have ever met. As soon as they started singing (and each one has an
incredible voice) my jaw dropped. Later on the high school students came from
school and ran through their routine and I was in awe again. Their program was
so beautiful and inspiring and showcased each of their talents.
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| A youth group practicing for the Youth Day ceremony! |
Our final day at Yabonga was Mandela
Day on July 18th. Nelson Mandela, who passed away in December but
would have celebrated his 96th birthday this year, continues to
inspire South Africans and people around the world through his legacy. In his
honor, people are encouraged to devote 67 minutes to community service in
recognition of his 67 years spent fighting for equality against the oppressive
apartheid regime. The REDISA (recycling and economic development in South
Africa) organization came to Yabonga for the holiday to donate food, blankets,
and toys. They also spent the afternoon with us, the Yabonga youth counselors,
and some gap students and youth building a garden, planting vegetables, and
painting. I think we all had a great time getting our hands (and clothes) a
little dirty for this special day of service.
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| Some of the Youth Counselors and students excited for Mandela Day |
These are just a
few of the reasons why Yabonga is what I’ll miss the most about South Africa.
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| Me and Nandi (our Yabonga supervisor) on our last day |
- Carolyn Drogt
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