Intervention for YOUTH IN RURAL AREAS

by Robyn Carstens (left) and Brighton Shumba

EEarlier this year, the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA)’s Rural Development team partnered with various government and private sector stakeholders to empower rural youth from the Bella Vista community in Ceres with information on social and economic opportunities. Stakeholders presenting various topics included the Department of Labour, South African National Youth Development Agency, Department of Social Development, Breede-Gouritz Catchment Management Agency, South African Revenue Service, Perdekraal Wind Farm, Department of Local Government and Department of Health.

Based on interactions and experiences from various communities, the rural context is characterised by a lot of challenges, such as youth unemployment, high school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse and low levels of both matric and tertiary education. The reality is that the youth do not have access to social and economic information and opportunities. The technology intake in rural areas is low and access to opportunities online becomes a challenge, hence the need for career guidance and accessibility. Furthermore, there are youth with good matric results but they do not know how to access bursaries and funding opportunities.

The rural youth intervention focussed on entrepreneurship, career guidance, substance abuse awareness and prevention, bursaries and internships, GBV awareness and other pertinent issues. The purpose of the intervention was to build capacity of young people and enable them to take charge of their own well-being by building their assets and realising their potential.

The intervention is anchored around the five principles of development: competence , confidence , connection , character and compassion

“Given the current socio-economic climate, particularly with South Africa having the highest youth unemployment rate in the world, creating a favourable environment for youth to access information on economic opportunities becomes imperative. This requires a whole-of-society approach (WOSA) where stakeholders work together to bring the much-needed change in the vulnerable rural communities. Engaging and listening to our rural youth is paramount in designing sustainable youth-driven solutions. Consistent investment in youth empowerment is critical in addressing socioeconomic realities among the vulnerable rural communities,” says Brighton Shumba, project manager for WCDoA’s Rural Development Programme.

The level of vulnerability in rural areas is high and requires sustainable partnerships to address some of the realities. This will in turn create a favourable environment for wealth creation in our rural communities. Transforming communities and changing lives remain a focal point for WCDoA’s Rural Development team. AP

For more information, contact Brighton Shumba: