Educo Africa Newsletter 4th Quarter 2019

1. educoafrica choose to lead today Educo Africa Newsletter 4th Quarter 2019

2. Message from the Executive Leadership Team Educo Africa would like to wish all our supporters, donors and beneficiaries a Happy New Year and all the best for 2019. May this year be filled with lots prosperity and joy. We started the year with a number of positives in our new office (307 Forest Drive Ext, Pinelands) and we are settling very well. We would like to thank TSiBA staff for their warm welcome and hospitality. Educo Africa will be celebrating 25 years of existence in the youth development sector. We would like to celebrate this milestone with all of you. In the 2019, we are focusing on the following themes and intentions: Newness, Openness, Change and Professionalism. We continue to acknowledge our staff for their dedication, hard work, commitment and most of all their professionalism that they show at all times. In the last quarter we successfully ran 10 courses across the Ukuzazi Leadership Programme, Sisonke Community Development Programme, International Programme and Sihambela Phambili Programme. Please note that Siphelele will be returning to Educo Africa in mid-March on a part-time basis as she is still on maternity leave. Also be aware that our website is currently under construction. We are ready for 2019! Yours in Youth Development, Lali Mili

3. Meet the Educo Africa team Lali Mili Executive Leadership Mark Johnston NSF Programme Manager Wiebke Nedel International Program Manager Siphelele Chirwa Executive Leadership Nicole Alexander Operations Manager Bulelani Jamce EPWP Trainee Facilitator Andile Centane Facilitator & Training Coordinator Luthando Nongogo EPWP Trainee Facilitator Kholisa Kokoma EPWP Trainee Facilitator Aphiwe Mbandezelo Programme & Office Administrator Bongiwe Mbeki Marketing & PR Coordinator S’kethucwaka Maqubela Logistics Admin Intern Megon Prins Facilitator & Logistics Admin Simone Afrikaner EPWP Support Administrator Trinity Netshokotshoko NSF Programme Support Miriam Fellechner German Intern Zanele Mthi NSF Administration Intern Siyasanga Mtombeni NSF Finance Intern

4. Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) This is an internship opportunity for young people to gain work experience, skills development and source permanent employment. Educo Africa has been in partnership with the Department of Social Development since 2014. Since then, we had a success rate of 80% youth permanent employment. This Programme also entails personal development and leadership. Whereby, the young person not only gains work experience and skills, but enables personal growth- the moment they step into the Programme to the point where they have become more confidence, increase self- esteem and motivated. It has been a great honour for Educo Africa to see how young people enter in the Programme and prosper in their full potential. Thank you to the Department of Social Development for this opportunity. It is changing the lives of our South Africa young people. #WeAreEducoAfrica #EPWP #Opportunities #Committed #WeChooseToLeadToday

5. EPWP Intern: Bulelani Jamce Bulelani joined Educo in November 2017 as a trainee wilderness facilitator. How is your journey like with Educo Africa ? It has been a journey full of challenges and learnings. What are your great experiences in the programme? On the wilderness programmes I got the opportunity to go hiking, sleep under the stars and even do abseiling and rock climbing. It was the best experience ever. I also enjoyed serving and giving back to other youth who never had the same opportunities that I had. Would you recommend this programme ? Yes – being an EPWP intern has changed my life personally and professionally. As a trainee facilitator I have gained valuable skills like leadership and public speaking. I have also learnt to express myself better. What inspires you most at Educo Africa? They are the only organization that uses its own method of teaching which is experiential learning.

6. EPWP Intern: S’kethucwaka Maqubela S’kethucwaka joined Educo in October 2018 as a Logistics Admin Intern. What is it like to be a Logistics administrator? As the logistics admin we take what has been co-ordinated and we make sure that things such as the vans, trailers, spice kits, first aid kits and various things are ready for any upcoming course that are about to take place. Tell us briefly about yourself? I am a former travel agent and current Psychology student. I enjoy the arts and creative spaces, I sing, dance, act and I model. I consider myself easy going and enjoy making every moment fun and an opportunity to learn from. Being apart of Educo, I feel that I have found a place that I can call home. What are your experiences like with Educo Africa? Educo Africa has provided me with such an amazing opportunity and my wish is that they can continue to provide this to many younger ones to come. Development at this age is so crucial and I think we can all agree that South African youth needs more opportunities such as these.

7. Activate! Personal Development & Leadership course In October Educo Africa ran a Personal Development & Leadership course for Activate! Change Drivers, a fellow youth development NGO with a focus on leadership and active citizenship. Held at our outdoor learning centre in the Groot Winterhoek mountains, the participants (known as “Activators”) took part in group activities designed to improve their self-awareness, deep listening/ communication skills and interpersonal leadership skills. For many, however, the highlight was the solo activity – participants had to spend a night out in the wilderness on their own, a challenging but deeply moving experience that promotes healing and reflection.

8. TSiBA Rites of Passage The Rites of Passage course is held annually for final-year students from TSiBA, a business school in Pinelands and long-term partner of Educo Africa. Completing their degrees is obviously a significant milestone for the students, and the course is designed to assist them as they pass from one important life stage to the next. Held at our learning centre in the Groot Winterhoek mountains, the focal point of the programme is a two day, two-night fast – participants spend this time alone in the wilderness without food, reflecting on their journey at TSiBA and what the closing of this chapter means to them. Crucially, the solo fast is also an opportunity for the students to look forward, connecting to their dreams and setting an intention for how they want to be in the future. Congratulations to all the students for completing their degrees and being part of this beautiful process.

9. Personal Development & Leadership/ Diversity course with Pinotage Youth Development Academy Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) is a Stellenbosch-based NGO that provides work-readiness training for local youth. Founded in 2012, PYDA runs a year-long course that prepares students for employment in the wine, tourism and fruit sectors. Last year PYDA approached Educo Africa to help their students work through a number of challenges they had been experiencing, including tension around race. The resulting course, held at the Groot Wilderness basecamp in December, built on our trusted Personal Development and Leadership (PDL) programme, but with a special focus on diversity. The 3-day course was hailed as a success, with students learning to work on open communication and celebrate the common features that make us all human.

10. International Course: University of Denver We’re proud to have run another successful international course for students from the University of Denver (DU) in the United States. The participants – all social work students from DU – spent a total of 16 days here in the Cape, during which time they were matched with South African social workers from our trusted partner organisations, including The Haven night shelter, James House and Leliebloem Children’s Home. Before the job shadowing, however, participants first spent 4 days at our Base Camp in the Groot Winterhoek mountains, where they got to connect with their hosts and explore issues around social work and social justice. The trusting relationships developed in the wilderness forms the foundation for a successful second part of the programme. “Life changing. There's no other way to experience another culture the way Educo Africa facilitates this course. The program has way of shedding light on everyone's similarities first so participants can build connections and then talk about differences from a place of curiosity and engagement.” Mia Norton DU student 2018

11. International Course: University of Minnesota Our final course for 2018 was a self-reflection and intention-setting retreat for students from the University of Minnesota (UMN) in the United States. Held annually over New Year’s at our Base Camp in the Groot Winterhoek mountains, the retreat pairs 25 American students with local youth from Bellville, and forms part of UMN’s Social Justice Immersion Course. Participants explored the wilderness as it greeted them into the new year, and held honest dialogues about their lived experiences in the context of race, health, gender, and social and economic justice. Once again, they walked away inspired and renewed by the power of diversity of community and deep listening.

12. International intern: Miriam Fellechner Hello! My name is Miri from Chemnitz, Germany working as an intern at Educo Africa since the 09th January 2019 till end February 2019. My first days at Educo Africa were very exciting; I got a great start here and I was warmly received. I supported the PR/Marketing department and helped to prepare the first course in 2019. Fortunately I was allowed to participate at the course “Project 90 by 2030 Team building and communication” myself as well. Project 90 by 2030 was my first course we went in the mountains and the wilderness to be part of the group made me feel very happy, I had great time in Groot Winterhoek Mountain and am looking forward to share my experience when go back home to Germany. We did a lot of great things like group activities, workshops and hiking. My personal highlight was the abseiling from the top of a great rock in the Groot Winterhoek Mountains. I have never done something like this before, so I was very excited, nervous and not sure if I can do that but with the support of the facilitators and the participants I managed to do abseiling down in the Winterhoek Mountains, Cape Town South Africa. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Educo Africa for this amazing experience!!!

13. NSF Graduate & Student Placement Programme Unemployment remains one of the greatest challenges facing youth in our country. Two years ago Educo Africa launched the NSF Graduate & Student Programme with the aim of getting young Capetonians working. In total we placed 167 interns with small businesses, NGOs and local government around Cape Town. As the programme now draws to a close, we are incredibly proud of all our participants who have successfully completed their internships. Particularly encouraging is that around half of these interns have found permanent employment, either with their hosts or with other companies. This suggests that the supported internship model is an effective one, and that Educo Africa should look to run more programmes like this. NSF Interns receiving their learner material kits

14. A big Thank You to all our funders & partners for your continued support! Our Funders Graaff Foundation Fulton Trust The Davies Foundation Groundswell Our Partners

15. Voices from the Beneficiaries “It sounds cliché but it was truly life altering for me. I'm going back to the US a more open, vulnerable and strong person because of this course and the people I met..” “A lot has changed since I came back from the course , my self-esteem, self- confidence , communication ,these are one of my strengths which I didn’t have before I went to Educo Africa programme.” “Life changing. There’s no other way to experience another culture the way Educo Africa facilitates this course. The program has way of shedding light on everyone’s similarities first so participants can build connections and then talk about differences from a place of curiosity and engagement.” “Overwhelming enlightening. In everyday life you don’t often have time to listen to body, mind and spirit. The wilderness experience allowed me to chance to get back to listening to myself. It gave me permission to let go and feel emotions that I have buried down for months. It freed me from myself.” “Experimental learning. The programme teaches one to look at themselves and then others and use those inner strength to assist others.” “Absolutely wonderful some searching experience. I've learned so much about myself and ways to take this learning back with me to America.” 17

16. About Educo Africa Educo Africa is a youth development organisation started in South Africa in 1994. The first phase of our overarching programme uses wilderness experiential learning as a profound platform for young people to experience their inherit potential.The second phase is a youth movement supporting young people in living their potential, with a specific focus on social and environmental wellbeing.VISIONYoung people understanding their roles as powerful agents for change – actively, confidently and positively contributing towards a better global community.MISSIONTo develop in young South Africans a sense of vision, initiative, contribution and personal responsibility, with emphasis on taking charge of the future through active citizenship and community building, collaborative leadership, a spirit of Ubuntu, and care for the environment.EDUCO AFRICA CORE VALUESDiversity – means for usTo act in our highest integrity and respect, authenticity and from a place of love for all difference and uniqueness.Openness – means for usTo accept challenges as opportunities for experience and learning while being non-judgemental toward everyone and all things.Enthusiasm – means for usTo live and pass on our work and vision with passion, care and joy. In doing so we strive for excellence.Inter-connectedness – means for usTo treat our inner and outer nature with mindfulness and appreciation, to protect it and care for it, acting in an ecologically sustainable and health conscious manner. Educo Africa Wishlist for this Month We are looking for second-hand (gently-used!) laptops, as well as funding to assist on our upcoming courses. If you can help us with any of these, please contact our head office on 021 761 8939 or email Bongiwe on Bongiwe@educo.org.za.