AMP supports youth development in Cape Town

Delegates to the 2008 AMP Offshore Convention in Cape Town will be able to learn about the unique cultural diversity and development challenges of South African communities. In collaboration with AMP, Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA will enable delegates to contribute to a program that is improving the lives of young people in the Heideveld community, near the Cape Town airport.

AMP has set up a Community Project to support and collaborate with a youth development organisation called Great Commission United (GCU). GCU started out as a soccer club and has now expanded to include the community development, assistance, support and resources for the children and youth of Heideveld, facilitating positive social and educational growth.

Every AMP delegate from Australia and New Zealand can make a difference by making a financial donation to GCU. Donations are deductible for Australian taxpayers via Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, who will mail receipts to all donors.

To donate please download the donation form at the bottom of this page and fax it to Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Fax. +61 (0)2 9261 1118, or you can mail the form and a cheque to: Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA, Level 3, 377 Sussex St, Sydney 2000 NSW Australia.

Heideveld is a mainly Coloured and Afrikaans-speaking community facing challenges of unemployment, drug and alcohol dependency, violence and family fragmentation, overcrowding, malnutrition, child abuse, truancy and school drop out.

In 2001, faced with these mounting social issues, Mario Van Niekerk, an ex gang member, founded GCU with Charles Young to compete for the hearts and minds of young people. At GCU, soccer jerseys replace gang uniforms and serve as a strong social motivator for club members. While GCU still has a focus on facilitating the positive, athletic, mental and emotional growth of children the program has now expanded into wide range of community activities.

GCU is a grassroots organisation where contributions have an immediate impact. GCU is a Christian organisation, but Heideveld is a mixed Muslim and Christian community, so GCU participants are from different churches and mosques, or are non-believers.

Currently GCU is struggling with the transportation of youth and children to and from soccer games and workshops. To help with this transportation problem AMP will purchase a minibus as part of their contribution to GCU and, with the assistance of your donations, we aim to support transport and other activities, including:

• Food security and nutrition for children and youth: GCU supports breakfast as well as lunch at 4 primary schools in the community, with a student population of around 3000. GCU helps educate youth and parents about nutrition and food security.
• Life Skills Training: There are approximately 5,000 gang members in the community and most use crystal methamphetamine ("ice") and other illegal drugs. Life skills training encourages health-protecting behaviours, goal setting, self-management skills, self-improvement/self esteem building and problem solving. The workshops and educational camps are designed to help children deal with life skills training as well as focusing on social issues such as HIV and alcohol and other drugs.
• Education: With 40-50 children in each classroom, teachers don't have the resources to provide the best education. GCU is initiating a community tutoring program for after school and aims to employ additional teachers to assist students. Tutoring will be a part of GCU's requirement to participate in sports practices, so if the child does not attend tutoring, they cannot participate in soccer. The nutrition, life skills, sports, and tutoring programs all contribute to
• Sports for youth development: this is still the primary attraction for children for GCU and away from the alternatives of gangs and drugs. Soccer is the vehicle being used to reach out to youth and children. For the programs to be effective, they need training equipment, soccer uniforms, tracksuits and soccer bags. Uniforms are particularly important in providing children with a sense of identity, pride, purpose and belonging, and are a powerful alternative to the colours and insignia associated with gangs.

Download full report:
AMP-GCU donation form [ pdf ]

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Last Modified: Monday, 05-Nov-2007 19:23:31 EST
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