Transformers Msinga

REACHING OUT TO YOUNG PEOPLE: CHALLENGING NORMS, INSPIRING CHANGE

Our vision is Christ-centred leaders in relation with youth ministry, and our mission statement is "Leading young people to know how to walk with God".

LIFE COACHING IN SCHOOLS

eThembeni Life Coaches are privileged to be welcomed into many of the local schools to run life coaching sessions with learners. The coaches work with teams, typically arriving and briefing first with the team/teachers.
A typical session starts with fun ice breaker activities, followed by a recap of the previous session happens and a vigorous discussion of the current topic. Teams sit with learners at their desks to interact directly and encourage participation.

The Youth Life Coaching project aims at empowering young people (youth) of school-going age to become self assertive young individuals who make wise decisions on their life, growing into adulthood safeguarded against unwise decisions regarding sexual health, substance abuse, self esteem, demolishing peer group pressure and unmotivated participation in the educational program.

Our youth life coaches work on a project-by-project basis with the following outline:

Ten week school visits, with focus on life choices, using Scripture Union material “Jika Generations”
Followed up with a weekend camp with learners, where, on an island situation, friendship, sport, fun, groupwork and lectures assist in making good choices about life.
Big youth gatherings in the communities for a week, over school holidays.
Forming positive peer change agents in the schools, who can assist the newer intakes to have good role models and support systems within the student corps.
Follow up and mentoring of change agents.

The Youth Life Coaching dream is to see young people who have challenging back grounds learn to stand up, find healing from wounds and become change agents in their communities.

We have built positive relationships with the schools: teachers invite us to participate, principals invite our leadership to attend functions and our leaders give motivational talks at school events. Teachers also attend our camps and assist with discipline. This is very encouraging. Some of the schools remark how they have seen change in learners. They have shared their stories with other schools.
- Youth Facilitator feedback

TEEN CAMPS

eThembeni works in many schools and attending camps is a highlight for learners. Some camps happen during term time as school events, others over the holidays. Each camp has its own focus to meet the specific needs of the group, but all camps address life challenges and issues each group (and age) face.

VOLUNTEERS

eThembeni has 15 volunteers who assist with the running of camps. Some volunteers take on specialist camp functions like photography, information, social network communication, financial administration, reporting and catering. They are all unemployed youth and gain good experience by volunteering. Scouting for new volunteers remain a challenge.

HOLIDAY CLUBS

Holiday clubs are run in different areas in partnership with churches from the Western Cape who come to KZN to do short term outreaches in June each year.

SCHOOL CHRISTIAN GROUPS (SCGS)

Our life coaches help to facilitate and mentor school Christian groups in local high schools. The school groups meet each week to pray together and share the word of God. The project coordinators are part of this as mentors and a spiritual guide to them if they have questions as young people.

eThembeni is making use of Veritas Bible School’s reading methods. We believe that a focus on integrated leadership development also adds value to these groups.

THE JABULANI CAMP SITE

eThembeni uses Jabulani Camp Site for their youth camps. Jabulani is located on a farm near Ladysmith and has the advantage of providing an affordable and well developed safe space with limited external interference. Camps run mostly on weekends: from Friday to Sunday. The camp site currently accommodates 100 campers and renovations are underway to increase the lodging to 200 campers. It has a large hall which is used for different purposes during the camp.

Through generous support from local communities and donors, teenagers from very poor communities can participate in camps on an equal footing with teenagers from richer communities (who pay their own costs). Focus is placed on fun, group interaction, teamwork, life choices, self esteem and goal setting. We facilitate interactive Bible study in groups.

We’ve also found out that some Grade 6s are motivated to excel academically to get into Grade 7 so that they can attend camp. This motivation for learners to be old enough to be part of camps is even positively affecting the pass rates. - Primary School Teacher

“I have gained valuable experience of working with the youth and I have gained a large sense of fulfilment from the role as Life Coach, knowing the positive effects thereof on the life of teenagers. They grew so much. My mentors (Nkanyiso, Sithembiso and Sihle) gave me confidence to do this responsible work. I have learnt to ask many questions, there is nothing like a stupid question."
- Nkazimulo Ngcobo

Working together

Our partners include:

Scripture Union Pietermaritzburg
Jabulani Trust
eThembeni (CMD Usizo Aids Trust)
Kommissie vir Getuienisaksie
Tygerberg medical students

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We need the following resources on an ongoing basis: Medical bags, Treatment Sponsorship, bicycles for volunteers.

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