f4lf4w


assitej, vrygrond,

peri-urban

 

Vrygrond was, originally, an informal settlement of fisherfolk in the dunes behind Strandfontein beach in the Cape. It grew gradually with new residents spilling out of areas like Lavender Hill and Retreat. Later, many Xhosa speaking families arrived from the Eastern Cape, seeking work opportunities and access to better health care. Finally, refugees and migrants from all over Africa came and settled in Vrygrond, hoping to establish a new life for themselves on the outskirts of Cape Town. The number of school drop outs was high and many young people found themselves caught in the traps of drug gangs, teenage pregnancy and unemployment. For school leavers with a matric – young people who had already shown resolve and an above-average commitment to work – help was at hand when the Fit for Life, Fit for Work programme arrived in Vrygrond in 2010.

 

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f4lf4w


etafeni trust, nyanga,

urban township

 

Nyanga is a sub-economic community with the highest crime stats in South Africa. Many families struggle to give their children opportunities that they did not have. When the Fit for Life, Fit for Work programme was first developed and offered at Etafeni – and placement rates were high – word spread fast and young people came in from rural areas to board with relatives just to access the programme. It has been one of Etafeni’s joys to share the programme with partners in other communities.

 

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f4lf4w

 


goedgedacht trust, Swartland

 

 

Based on a beautiful historic farm in Riebeeck Kasteel, Goedgedacht seeks to transform surrounding impoverished farming communities.  It does so by presenting children and young adults in particular with opportunities to become healthy, self-confident, educated and skillful members of their communities.  Goedgedacht’s Rural Academy Centre hosts the Fit for Life, Fit for Work programme of training and support, bringing new self-discovery and excitement to the young participants.

 

 

 

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f4lf4w

 


namibia women’s health network, namibia, peri-urban

 

Women’s Health Network was founded to support women in their struggle for health. The link between the ability to earn a decent living and health was soon apparent and many women – and then men too – were helped to start their own small businesses and to get qualifications that would help them find employment. The Fit for Life, Fit for Work programme was welcomed as a good addition, an enhancement, to what was already being done. Women ‘s Health Network was warmly welcomed into the F4LF4W  family.

 

 

 

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f4lf4w


valoyi trust, nwamitwa,

rural

 

In Nwamitwa, a rural area in Limpopo, there were few employment opportunities other than badly-paid seasonal farm labour. Young people left their villages for towns: Tzaneen, Polokwane, Johannesburg. Or they lived on social grants at home. When Fit for Life, Fit for Work was invited to Nwamitwa, it started  learnerships in agriculture, construction and early childhood development – all careers that could contribute to life in Nwamitwa and to career paths for young school leavers.

 

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f4lf4w


wits reproductive health institute, hillbrow,

urban

 

WRHI realised that there is a strong correlation between healthy sexual choices and hope for  the future. Young people who see themselves as having a career path – and a plan – for their lives are less likely to engage in risky behaviour. WRHI is situated in Hillbrow, a densely populated part of Johannesburg, where all of South Africa’s languages – and many of Africa’s languages – are spoken. In addition, many young people came in from the urban sprawl of townships surrounding Johannesburg to join the Fit for Life, Fit for Work programme.

 

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donors

City of Cape Town  2006 

Empower

Ford Foundation  2007 – 2017

Het Maagdenhuis

Porticus

Thabiso Skills Institute

Transport Education and Training Authority

Youth Bridge Trust  2018 – 2020

donations in kind

Cross-Cultural Solutions – volunteers

Dell, Mecer and Mustek – computers

Geoff Budlender, Don MacRobert and Rampe Hlobo SJ – legal advice and support

Ria Verhoef – Komptra – website support

Zandi Siwali, Chris Murimba, Jenny Gatsi, Nxalati Baloyi, Chwayita Oniwe, Val Barry, Jo-Anne Friedlander – administrative assistance

Xavier Alphonse SJ –  His book ‘We Shall Overcome’