YeBoneers in training in Thembalethu

GEORGE NEWS - A total of 40 YeBoneers from Planet Youth are currently undergoing training at Inkcubeko Youth and Science Centre in Thembalethu which will enable them to work in schools where they will run programmes aimed at influencing children's life choices in a positive way.

The training lasts until Friday 23 February and from Monday 26 February the YeBoneers will be placed at different schools.

"The work at the schools are aimed at reducing substance use, violence, school dropouts and risk factors and to increase protective factors.

"This is done by providing counselling to learners at high schools, running support groups and provideing afterschool activities," says Asanda Sithole, programme manager and mentor.

"YearBeyond has different streams, and the George community should be proud of the Planet Youth prevention stream, because it is the first of its kind, proudly started here in George with the hope that it will spread to surrounding areas and other provinces."

Working in partnership with YearBeyond, Sahara (Smoking and Alcohol Harms Alleviation and Rehabilitation Association) is an implementing partner of the Planet Youth stream working in high schools.

The training started on 12 February and is provided by Sahara, Planet Youth, University of Cape Town, Western Cape Education Department, Love Life and Waves 4 Change.

"Through their service, the youth on the YeBoneers programme tackle challenges communities face in education and creating social cohesion and community well-being, while they build their skills and experience," says Sithole.

Yeboneers who are being trained and will be placed at schools from Monday 26 February.

Planet Youth
Planet Youth is a whole of society approach platform for community collaboration that aims to improve mental health.

It is an Icelandic prevention concept, that has proved success in reducing substance abuse, violence, school dropout rates and is designed to strengthen protective factors and building healthy communities, especially for youth using evidence-based and internationally tested approach of youth development activities, community empowerment and rigorous auditing.

It is a collaboration between Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, George Municipality, Western Cape Department of Education, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Social Development, University of Cape Town, SAPS, Sahara as co-leader, and several non-governmental organisations.

YearBeyond
YearBeyond is a youth service programme that provides young people with important work experience while developing them personally and professionally, and connecting them to opportunities. The YearBeyond participants are proudly known as ‘YeBoneers’.

Persons involved in the training programme of the YeBoneers are, from left: Jonty Martin (mentor assistant), Rosette Katzen (WCED social worker), Ziyanda Qashani (data administrator), Celtencia le Roux (WCED social worker), Gawie Raubenheimer (WCED head psychologist), Asanda Sithole (programme manager and mentor), Dr Hermann Reuter (UCT), Batya Cela (mentor), Nathaniel Peterson (health and lifestyle coordinator), Mihle Funda (Academy student) and Olothando Bala (Sahara advocacy).