Noordgesig Youth Forum was established in October 2011 with the aim of empowering youth. To spearhead the fight against social ills within the communit
The organization was registered on 12 March 2012 as an NPO (NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION) with the Department of Social Development under the NPO Act 71 of 1997.
To advocate, educate and prevent the spread of substance and drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and crime related activities amongst youth in the community.
To monitor and reintegrate those already affected back into the community.
To create opportunities and mobilize resources for youth in the community; to promote the culture of learning amongst youth; to be the information centre in the community for the youth; To create programs that will reduce the rate of unemployment for youth in the community.
Programmes
1. Substance abuse
As a forum we felt that the community was broken because of the ongoing substance abuse even among kids from as early as 9 years old.
We then felt that community involvement was the key to the whole process there for we saw the need in inviting them to the various meetings to get their support for what we were planning to do.
We organized an Anti-Drug campaign to highlight the effects substance abuse has on the youth which impacts negatively on the community as a whole.
The success of the campaign really brought the community back together again.
Through the campaign several partnerships were established; we formed a partnership with SANCA where we do referrals for youth looking to be rehabilitated. Other partnerships were forged with the local clinics, churches, the schools, the SAPS and the community leaders.
Substance abuse is an ongoing issue that can never be won with one campaign hence we have seen a need to continue working with our partners to reduce the scourge of substance abuse in our community.
2. Wellness
The first wellness workshop we participated on was last year October which was organized by REGION D.
A challenge was given to us as the youth to do something about the social issues affecting us as the youth and the community.
Our first wellness will be held in October 2012.
The focus will be on the following topics; Cancer, HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases, teenage pregnancy, etc.
3. Skills Development
Skills development is the core function of the youth forum.
Through the partnerships we have, the youth has, is and still going to benefit from the skills offered by our partners and their partners and more partnerships are still required to achieve this goal.
4. Sports
The forum hosts two major sports events each year; Youth Day is celebrated through sports and entertainment, and Heritage Day is also celebrated through sport, Arts and Culture and entertainment.
The forum held its inaugural Youth Day celebration in partnership with the Department of Sport, Art and Culture and Recreation which was a huge success.
We will be having fun and festivities on Heritage day which will be a first for Noordgesig. Ironically it was the first time ever that Noordgesig had celebrated Youth Day, which we feel very proud as the forum that we were able to bridge that gap. The same with Heritage it will be a first for Noordgesig.
5. Community outreach
Our community outreach is not limited.
We are stretched to every length of the community; be it helping at someone’s garden, house, clinic, school, church, day-care, we are literally available for anything.
6. Arts and Culture
Music and Dance take centre stage; through the partnership we have with the schools in the community.
Projects are in the pipeline for us to run musical workshops in the community, which we are really excited about.
