Faced with crime, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and unemployment, many youngsters growing up in South African townships are troubled with a lack of self-belief. Thankfully, in KwaNyuswa, hope is rising as Light Providers create opportunities through life skills empowerment
Story Katrine Anker-Nilssen
Having grown up in KwaNyuswa in the Valley of 1000 Hills, I have first-hand experience of people’s needs here,” explains Vusi Kweyama. “A lack of guidance, peer pressure and an ignorance of your own potential are just some of the driving forces behind the problems.”
Vusi attended a life skills and leadership course at World Changers Academy in 2002 and committed himself to bringing the material from the course home to his community. He created the Light Providers Youth Club – uplifting through inspiring recreational programmes.
Msizi Phewa, also part of the founding team, manages the organisation today. “I have seen many youngsters destroy their lives with bad choices. This has made me passionate about exposing them to what they are capable of doing and how good choices can create a brighter future,” he says.
Msizi hopes to see Light Providers reach more communities, building strong people with values and character. “Young people have a lot of energy and talent, but they need to be mentored to reach their full potential.”
Hlengiwe Pellem is another key player at Light Providers. She runs the library, where she assists learners lacking reading skills or needing relevant information to complete school projects. “It is so encouraging to help others,” she says. “I especially love helping children understand how to behave at school and how to become friends with books.”
Regarding health issues, Light Providers has partnered with the Open Door Crisis Centre to inform and educate youngsters. Community members can get HIV/AIDS counselling and testing on-site.
Light Providers also builds confidence and self-esteem by helping course participants express themselves in music, dance, drama and poetry. They believe sport is fundamental to the development of an individual. Through sport, youngsters learn key values such as respect, honesty, teamwork, adherence to rules, how to handle competition and cope with winning and losing. However, due to a lack of funding, sports programmes are on hold.
Character development is without doubt more important than the actual skills taught at Light Providers. “Changes in your character are what allow you to pick yourself up, get out of your struggles and create a better future,” says Claire Jenvey, secretary on the governing board of Light Providers.
Claire has always been passionate about ensuring non-profits are run well and stay accountable to their partners and sponsors. When she got involved in Light Providers in 2015, she felt it had done amazing things already, despite struggling financially. “There were a number of passionate people, but little access to funds and only a few volunteers to train at the centre.”
A year and a half later, with the help of sponsors and local volunteers, substantial renovations have been made to the facilities, but more still needs to be done. Parents have reported seeing radical changes in their children, along with amazing maturity in their teenagers. When equipped with the correct skills, attitude and drive to improve one’s life, anyone can succeed.
How can you get involved?
- Volunteer your time to lead life skills classes
- Are you a qualified dance teacher? The organisation is looking for someone to teach a weekly class. “This keeps the kids off the street and gives them something to do that is wholesome and healthy,” says Claire
- Help upgrade IT equipment
- Help remove rubble and old furniture left over from the renovations.
Msizi Phewa
078 112 1628 or 061 423 2459
