The City of Cape Town will focus on opening up new opportunities for young people to help overcome substance abuse, gangsterism and unemployment.
In keeping with the City’s commitment to building a Caring and Safe City, the City of Cape Town Social Development and Early Childhood Development Directorate have begun implementing a number of projects specifically aimed at youth development.
The projects include job creation initiatives that provide support to organisations from the communities to help young people gain work skills; life skills training sessions; work and employment skills training workshops for unemployed youngsters through the University of the Western Cape and organisational capacity building workshops through the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
“Young people need opportunities like these to engage in meaningful activities, have a voice, take responsibility for their actions, and actively participate in civic discourse,” says Mayoral Committee Member for Social Development and Early Childhood Development, Councillor Suzette Little.
The City’s youth development implementation programme aims to reduce youth unemployment levels by providing young people with work and employment skills, support and training; build linkages, partnerships and networks to support at risk young people by collaborating with other line departments and spheres of government; increase youth involvement and active citizenship by building the capacity of youth organisations and leaders to develop themselves and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
“We know that gangsterism and substance abuse are rife in many communities around the city. And that the high unemployment rate amongst our youth increases their chances of getting involved in dangerous activities. It is therefore our hope that by providing added opportunities for Cape Town’s young people, we will assist them to reach their full developmental potential and become healthy and happy adults who are able to contribute significantly and positively to their communities,” says Councillor Little.
