More than 350 young people, representing about 30 organisations, have attended the launch of the South Peninsula Youth Council (SPYC).
SPYC chairperson Roger de Wet told The Commentator that the launch was the culmination of two years of hard work with many role players in the youth sector.
SPYC’s main aim is to make an impact on the lives of all young people and it acts as an umbrella body for youth forums and organisations working amongst the youth in the Southern Peninsula in Cape Town.
SPYC has so far established youth forums in the following areas: Ocean View/Red Hill; Masiphumelele/Noord Hoek; Retreat/Steenberg/Heathfield; Lavender Hill/Vrygrond/Sea Winds and Parkwood/ Lotus River/Ottery/Grassy Park

“Although we only had our launch this year, SPYC was really formed in 2001. The process started with consultations with various organisations involved in youth work,” says Roger.
“A task team, consisting of individuals, civil society and the South Peninsula Administration, was then set up to investigate the possibility of forming an umbrella body. Because we did not reach all the communities during this process, we then decided to set up a number of smaller task teams within these communities,” he says.
At the time when they were set up, these task teams had the following goals:

• To broaden the amount of organisations to form part of SPYC;
• To build capacity and
• To gain an insight into what was happening in the communities with regard to youth development.

“Today the major challenges they face are the development of sound projects and programmes for the youth and the development of youth centres. If funding become available, full-time youth co-ordinators will be appointed to see to these needs,” said Roger.
Currently close to 30 youth organisations are affiliated to SPYC. The members of Executive Committee are all volunteers and meets once a month. Its first Annual General Meeting is earmarked for November 2003.
“Lots of groundwork still needs to be done with regards to youth development within our areas and we need to engage with religious bodies, schools and sports bodies in order to make an impact in real issues such as unemployment and crime.
“We need to involve all people in a community in order to develop, guide and train potential leaders,” says Roger.

For more information on SPYC call Roger de Wet on +27+21 848003523 or email cloud9youth@hotmail.com

Web site designed and maintained by © AshiharaOnline July 2003 - 2021