A youth club is a safe space for young people to organize themselves.
It is a membership-based group which allows for youth to engage, debate, discuss issues & plan how they will transform their community.
Clubs are made up of a core leadership structure which includes a chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary & a treasurer which are democratically elected by members and governed by a constitution.
Objectives of a Club
Clubs are taught to become self-sufficient, therefore community organizing skills such as fundraising, mobilization, facilitation, debate, campaigning and advocacy will be a core part of our objectives.
“Whether it is the media, individuals, organisations or government, every little action against racism is important.” Ahmed Kathrada
What does it mean to be part of a Club?
Being part of a network of community clubs’ means being able to connect with youth from across Johannesburg.
This allows you to share and learn from each other’s experiences, connect and work together towards making a difference in society as collective.
Members decide what issues need to be addressed & thereafter develop a plan of action to address them.
This involves strategic planning, analysis of their community, engagements with community stakeholders and actively campaigning to address the issues that feel strongly about.
Core members are taken through a year long Activist School curriculum that allows us to develop their skills and knowledge on a range of important topics.
What to expect in the program?
The activities of the program include discussions, debates, workshops, events, lectures & field visits.
We also try & have a number of engagements with anti-apartheid stalwarts & freedom fighters.
A critical part of the activities involves creating safe & inclusive spaces for young people to engage on contemporary issues and issues that affect our generation on a local and global scale.
As best as possible we try to commemorate notable ‘national and world calendar days’ in which we host opportunities for engagement and learning on the theme that has been highlighted, such as World Suicide Prevention Day, Youth Day and Africa Day to name a few.
Being part of a network of community Youth clubs’ means being able to connect with youth from across Gauteng.
This allows you to share and learn from each other’s experiences, connect and work together towards making a difference in society as a collective.
Youth Clubs
Lenasia
Lenasia South
Lehae
Lawley
Zakariya Park
Vlakfontein
Protea Glen
Eldorado Park
Thembelihle
Orange Farm
Finetown
Ennerdale
Slovoville
Meadowlands
Kliptown
Roodepoort
Florida
Berea
Auckland Park
Crosby
Alexandra
Vosloorus
Benoni
Tembisa
Springs
Katlehong
Mabopane
Soshanguve
Winterveld
Hammanskraal
Youth Campaigns
Slide 1
Climate Change Workshop
The Foundation hosted a number of youth club members to learn about issues of Climate Change with experts and activists working in the field. The workshop had theoretical and practical areas. Youth also got to express themselves through poster making.
Slide 2
Robben Island Youth Leadership Camp
This annual event focuses on leadership skills development. It allows us to immerse ourselves in the history of Robben Island, unpack various contemporary issues and learn about the struggle/liberation movement. Approximately 60 youth are taken on this camp.
Slide 3
Winter Warmer Project
This campaign mobilises a number of youth volunteers to carry out a massive door-to-door drive to collect non-perishable food, clothes and books. The aim is to encourage more young people to learn and embody the spirit of volunteerism. To extend social solidarity to the less privileged.
Slide 3
#FreeToFlow
This is a campaign to support 500 young women with the provision of sanitary pads. This campaign is about ensuring we protect the dignity of women, ensuring they have equal access to freedom of movement and access to educational opportunities. This campaign runs parallel to an education and training program for our youth club members that addresses sexual, reproductive and menstrual health.
Slide 3
#OperationBlackJack
Youth in Lenasia hosted a clean-up campaign addressing the poor state of the local post office. Youth members cleaned up the area surrounding the post office and campaigned online to get the Minister to intervene. Not long after, the Postal service employed a service provider to take care of the facility.
Slide 3
Clean Up Our Community
Young people in Eldorado Park, Finetown and Lawley hosted a number of clean up drives to draw attention to the poor state of waste infrastructure in their areas. This further highlighted the need to effectively manage waste better.
Slide 3
Voter Education
The Foundation hosted a series of engagements with our youth to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the electoral system. These sessions brought together a number of politicians and representatives from different parties to engage the youth.
Slide 3
Anti-Corruption
The youth department works closely with the Strengthening Democracy department at the foundation. The anti-corruption campaign is an on-going one that allows our youth campaign locally through pickets, petitions and community engagements to deal with corruption issues.
Slide 3
Youth Pageant and Talent Show
Our youth club in Finetown had hosted an event to create a safe space for children in their area. This event is an annual one to encourage participation, develop self-esteem and self-confidence of youth in the area.
Slide 3
Youth Sports Day
We successfully hosted a netball and soccer sports day at Progress Primary School with youth club members from 9 different areas in the South of Johannesburg. This was in commemoration of June 16, and also allowed youth to express themselves using art, singing and dance.
Slide 3
Market Theatre Collaboration
Through our collaboration with the Market Theatre we were able to take groups of young people to the theatre. Many of whom had only experienced this for the first time. These productions were thought provoking and allowed for discussion and debate within our youth club.
Slide 3
Shamsaan Youth Engagement
We welcomed and hosted a dialogue between visiting Palestinian youth and members of our youth clubs. This dialogue was about strengthening the understanding of each other’s lived experiences and promote friendship and hope.
Slide 3
Thembelihle Friendship and Hope Campaign
In collaboration with UNISA and various organisations, the foundation collaborated on a campaign to strengthen engagements between the historically disadvantaged areas of Lenasia and Thembelihle and promote friendship, dialogue and shared cooperation.
Slide 3
After school lessons
Our youth club in Thembelihle regularly host after school tutoring sessions with youth in the area. This allows them to work collectively to learn and understand their school work better.
Slide 3
Workbook Workshops
In 2018 the Foundation commissioned a workbook based on Kathradas life as an activist. The workbook serves as a toolkit to promote activism and active citizenship. This workbook is used to run mini workshops with youth groups, our youth clubs and schools. Contact us if you’d like to host a workbook workshop.
Slide 3
Youth Concert
In 2019 we hosted our inaugural Kathy Youth Concert at the Ghandi Hall in Lenasia. We showcased a number of talented dancers, rappers, singers, poets and artists in our youth clubs. Danny K and Kabelo joined us in celebrating the life of Uncle Kathy.
Slide 3
Webinars
As the world shifts from physical to digital spaces, we too have successfully hosted numerous online events and talks covering a range of topics, and commemorating significant days on our calendar.
Slide 3
Anti-Racism Work
Working with the Anti-Racism Department at the foundation, we regularly visit schools, host anti-racism assemblies, promote the anti-racism essay writing competition and participate in anti-racism events, pickets, lectures and demonstrations.
Slide 3
Screenings
Clubs often screen movies, documentaries or live debates/speeches in which they can discuss the content prior and post event. These screenings are a fun way of engaging youth locally and promote learning in new ways.
Slide 3
Aerobics Class
Youth in Lehae host aerobics sessions in the outdoor sports complex. These sessions organise young people and allow them to keep physically and mentally fit.
