"Make a Difference Day"

"Make a Difference Day". Youth of Choice Volunteers recently teamed up to paint a local school basketball court as part of the Sport for Social Change community outreach program.

What is a Sport for Social Change program?

Sport for Social Change is a community outreach program that uses the sport of basketball as a tool to encourage positive social change in the areas of leadership, education and health. The program provides young people with the opportunities and resources that are critical to their future success and development. The program delivers fundamental basketball instruction and life skills for players, teachers, coaches, officials and hope to reach 5000 participants by the end of the 2013.

Achievements and overall project progress:

Sport for Social Change program has reached more than 500 young people, 12 coaches, 10 teachers in UMgungundlovu District Municipalities this year, such as Mpofana, Umngeni, Msunduzi, Mkhambathini and Impendle. Through the funding received from the NLDTF this program will culminate with a Legacy Project, which includes the creation of safe places where kids can learn or play, training of coaches & tournaments.

The benefits young people receive from Sport for Social Change reach well beyond the playing field. SFSC empowers children to become productive adults, engage in healthy lifestyles, manage life’s challenges and become leaders within their communities.

For more information, email projects@youthofchoice.org

 

 

Youth of Choice Ambassodor

We're so excited that Miss Pietermaritzburg 2010 @aphe22 has chosen @YOUTHOFCHOICE as her platform. http://yfrog.com/mfdk1uj Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you!

YOUTH OF CHOICE CLUB IN ACTION

Our first YOUTH OF CHOICE CLUB from DUT in Pietermaritzburg campus took action and gave career guidance to 50 grade 12 leaners from KwaMncane rural community just outside Pietermaritzburg, clean the local community clinic and did gardening for the local community. Start a YOC Club with your friends and start making a difference in your community. Tell us, what is the problem that you want to solve in your community, we can help you to make a difference...Contact 033 342 2394 or email info@youthofchoice.org 

Website: http://www.youthofchoice.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/youthofchoice

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/YOUTHOFCHOICE

 

 

 

KICKING THE STREETS project for youth living in the streets

Youth living in the streets visited our offices today. They shared their hardships and gave us input for our Kicking the Streets project launching in October 2011. The month of October is a dedicated poverty month & we have planned to have a Day of Hope for young people living in the streets. The Day of Hope will include fun activities, handing over food, clothes, shoes and they will also learn how to paint through art. If you want to get involve, contact Youth of Choice Offices on 033 342 2394 or email enquiry@youthofchoice.org
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ONE PAIR GOES A LONG WAY

In June and July this year we asked young people to GO BAREFOOT FOR THE DAY and DONATE SHOES to our SHOES 4 HOPE campaign. Young people took action, walked part of the day and some the entire day barefoot. Our SHOES 4 HOPE campaign challenged young people to put themself in someones else shoes and know how it feels like for some children who walk barefoot to school or can't go to school because they don't have shoes. With no education, their future does'nt look very bright. Having a pair of shoes will also help to play sport, fetch water and prevent them from soil-transmitted diseases. Local Pietermaritzburg schools such as TWC, Heritage Academy, Pietermaritzburg Girls High School, New England Primary, St Nicholas High School,  responded to our Call to Action and got their pupils involved and encourage their friends to get involve.

Through our partnership with CINDI NETWORK, Youth of Choice has handed over more than 1072 pairs of shoes to community based organizations which deals with vulnerable children, with a special focus on HIV and AIDS. We hope this shoe drive campaign will bring a sense of HOPE and DIGNITY to vulnerable children. As we would like to think, "ONE PAIR GOES A LONG WAY". Our CHAMPIONS 4 change in schools and our project management have done a great job running this campaign.  We need more CHAMPIONS 4 change to drive this campaign inside the schools next year and if you think you can TAKE ACTION and make a difference through this campaign, please contact our office at 033 342 2394 or email us at info@youthofchoice.org
 
About Youth of Choice

 

Youth of Choice is non-profit organization that inspires young people to take action and make a difference in their schools, campuses, communities and the world. Our aim is to be a leading global youth movement of choice by 2030 with at least 10 000 000 young people taking action, inspiring social change and driving positive impact. The young people TAKING ACTION and INSPIRING CHANGE to solve social challenges, we like to call them the "Youth of Choice". We target vibrant and dynamic young people between the ages of 14 and 24 years old who are passionate about social change. We use the power of online media platforms and popular youth culture to draw the attention of young people to take action. If they got an original idea about how to make change in their community or their school or their campus, Youth of Choice can help you to make it happen.

 

 

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Young Women Taking Action!

On 09 August 2011, South Africa commemorated the march of 1956 when women from across the racial spectrum protested against the carrying of pass books. Youth of Choice organized a Face 2 Face Seminar as part of their initiative on Women’s Day 2011 focused on giving young girls the platform to talk to one another about social challenges they see in their communities, issues that are affecting them as young women in society & inspire them to take action to tackle those issues.

 

“We as Youth of Choice we believe young women have the power to change the world and given the platform they can do greater things that can change the world”, says Jabulani Myeza the Founder of Youth of Choice.

 

Prominent issues that came out during the seminar, high levels of teenage pregnancy, peer pressure, sugar daddies, social justice and climate change.  These girls have made a choice to take action on some of these important issues through the creation of Youth of Choice Clubs which promotes the involvement of young people in community service in a fun, easy and meaningful way.

 

Youth of Choice is a non-profit organization that inspires young people to make a difference in their schools, campuses and communities.

 

 

What happen in Norway?

Tragedy struck in Norway this past weekend when the peaceful nation experienced a terrorist attack from a native Norwegian suspect Anders Behring Breivik who trained at a secret paramilitary field camp in Belarus earlier this year. At least 76 people were killed on July 22, 2011, when a Norwegian extremist bombed a government building in Oslo, the country’s capital, and later went on a shooting spree at a youth camp near the city. At least 65 of the victims were young people. Anders Behring Breivik, the alleged perpetrator of the Oslo terrorist attacks on Friday, as a Christian fundamentalist. His 1,500-page manifesto — 2083 A European Declaration of Independence — and an accompanying video reveal a more complex picture. Aside from his interest in Christianity, Breivik appears to have studied aspects of esotericism and neopaganism.

This is what South Africa and the world can learn from a german newspaper article: "Even in their deepest sorrow the Norwegians don't get hysterical. They resist the hate. It is amazing to see how politicians and the whole country reacts. They are sad to the deepest thread of their souls. They cry in dignity. But nobody swears to take revenge. Instead they want even more humanity and democracy. That is one of the most remarkable strengths of that little country."