A good idea shot down by lack of funds

When the xenophobic attacks on foreigners erupted in 2008, many commentators and analysts concluded quite rightly that the attacks were symptomatic of something deeper than xenophobia: this was a result of joblessness, poverty and hunger. People were frustrated by the economic condition in which they found themselves.

In such situations it is always easy to find a scapegoat. In this case, foreign residents of poor townships were an easy target because they were seen as competing for jobs and scarce resources.

This situation was a challenge to us at the Lead and Inspire School of Leadership in Pretoria. Up to now we had seen our mission as one that focused on leadership development and team building. Although we had run leadership workshops and short courses for disadvantaged schools, we had never regarded community development in poor townships as an important part of our calling.

As managing director of Lead and Inspire, I wrote a couple of articles for The Southern Cross about xenophobia. But this was something that required a response that went beyond seeking solutions through the press. The Holy Spirit helped us to find the answer to our problem:  the solution was to initiate a project designed to give the unemployed and other youths a sense of dignity and purpose, and to direct their attention away from inclinations and activities that may lead to crime and other forms of undesirable behaviour. This is how the Ga-Rankuwa Youth Development Project was born.

The project has been designed as a youth personal empowerment and enhancement programme that will benefit the participating youths by:  helping them to be more employable; equipping them with self-employment and income generating skills; and enhancing character development, self-esteem and a sense of purpose.

This is to be achieved by teaching a programme that develops both values and skills. Values here include cultural, community and family values; respect for traditions, respect for the dignity of the human person; respect for the values of ethnic groups different from one’s own etc.

The development of such values must, however, go with the development of skills that empower an individual to fit into the modern economy.

The programme is taught on Saturdays over a period of four months. It is called the Ga-Rankuwa Youth Development Project because it is run in Ga-Rankuwa township north of Pretoria. Consultations were carried out with community leaders and there was strong support for the project. The idea is to use Ga-Rankuwa as a pilot project that will be replicated in other townships and in rural areas.

The achievements to-date include the following: A non-profit organisation called Batho Community Development Foundation has been legally established as a subsidiary of Lead and Inspire. A government department has donated twelve computers to the project. We have a team of six enthusiastic facilitators; and so far an intake of  about 50 unemployed youths and high school students have completed the programme.

But there is a sad ending to this otherwise happy story: So far no Church or funding agency has given us financial support. We need funds to pay stipends to the facilitators; we use YMCA buildings for which we must pay rent. Our students are so poor they would benefit from having a light meal or a snack. Because we cannot go on accumulating debts, we have had to suspend the programme.

Is there a Good Samaritan among readers of The Southern Cross who can lead us to a source of funds? The people of Ga-Rankuwa Township are yearning to see the project resume. Is there an Angel of God out there who can come to their rescue?

Professor Ngara can be e-mailed at engaras @ iafrica. com