Mpumalanga school wins YCAP competition

October 1, 2011 │ Johannesburg

The winner of the 2011 Youth Citizens Action Programme (YCAP) is Dlomodlomo Secondary School in Mpumalanga, South Africa, that will receive 25,000 Rand (c. 2,300 Euros) for its project which focused on substance abuse prevention in its community.

YCAP is an initiative hosted by Afrika Tikkun, an NGO focused on empowering South Africa’s most vulnerable children to develop into well-adjusted, productive members of society. It challenges Grade 10 learners to actively demonstrate what it means to be a good citizen. This programme is a partnership between Afrika Tikkun, Deutsche Bank, Heartlines and The Department of Basic Education.

Competing schools have to develop a concept project to address a challenge within their school or community – and then actually implement it.

The finals of YCAP, held at Afrika Tikkun’s Centre of Excellence in Alexandra Township, Johannesburg on Saturday, 1 October was the culmination of months of hard work by the nine competing high schools which had already won their respective provincial competitions, along with R15 000 each in prize money.

Cedar High School of Mitchells Plain, Western Cape was the runner up and received 15,000 Rand for a project dealing with knowledge and learning. Third place and R10 000 went to KZN’s Ridge Park College for its project on teen pregnancy.

According to Amanda Blankfield of Afrika Tikkun, the grade 10 Dlomodlomo Secondary School learners went the extra mile with their project. They approached SAPS and the Department of Health to help them discourage substance abuse at their school and surrounding community. They organised a march with hundreds of people and started support groups for recovering substance abusers. In addition, they made local tavern owners sign a pledge to avoid selling to under 18s and those in uniform. To get their message across, they spoke on their local community radio station - Radio Alpha - to create awareness on the dangers of drug abuse.

The winners aim to use their prize money to develop sports and recreation facilities to keep the youth off the streets and out of trouble.

Dr Shermain Mannah of the National Department of Basic Education said that the institution bears a particular responsibility in building an equitable and peace loving society, with a shared sense of national identity and greater social cohesion. Such a responsibility could not be fulfilled without partners in education. “The support of Afrika Tikkun, Deutsche Bank and Heartlines through the YCAP Programme has been instrumental in promoting good citizenship, critical thinking and transformation among our learners.”

The YCAP project has gained momentum and popularity: While in the previous year only four provinces competed, all nine provinces in South Africa participated in 2011. According to all project partners, YCAP is a good example of partnerships amongst business, NGOs and government.

Further information

Afrika Tikkun