The group of young leaders from Belfast, Northern Ireland, are involved in the North Belfast Area Project, Ardoyne Youth Club and Glencairn Youth Initiative that are now working with the Out of Africa Missions (OAM) in George to make a difference in the hearts and homes of the people in Blanco and Thembalethu. The team is also actively involved with the Real Start youngsters in their benevolent community outreaches.
The youth groups have been coming out to George for three weeks over Easter since 2011 and they hope to make this an annual project. Each year the project takes on new young youth workers to give them a sense of the circumstances in which most of the people in the townships live.
Some of the youngsters that have come to South Africa prior to this year, have shown so much interest in youth work and a yearning to help the people in the townships, that an exception was made for them to return to George as the leaders of the team.
Amy Livingstone who came to South Africa in 2011 and Gregory Wilson and Megan McFarlane who were part of the 'SA 2012' group have returned on a four week journey, working in the community for seven days.
Most of these youngsters feel that they have been blind to the needs of others and have therefore committed themselves to fulfilling the aim of looking beyond the townships and reach out to as many needy people as possible within the three weeks.
They take up new challenges every day with smiles on their faces - their famous saying is 'a smile goes miles'.
They absolutely love what they are doing because youth work is the one thing that stands out to them. For them helping others is not just an obligation towards their fellow man, but also a passion.
Their outreaches involve: working with the young people in the community; personal development; confidence building; renovating homes; backyard cleaning; caring for the elderly; and making and providing food, especially for elderly people without any immediate family.
Some of their proudest work was when they fixed-up an old caravan for an elderly woman called Kate in Blanco so that she could have a warm bed and roof over her head for the approaching winter months. They were also very touched by a blind elderly man in Blanco called Uncle John. Amy Livingstone, who is one of the leaders and responsible for giving out food in the community and home visits, could not handle seeing him when she was sent to his home. Uncle John is one of the more needy folk in Blanco. "I have met some wonderful people along the way, most of all, Uncle John. The first time I was sent to his house I took one look at him and left, crying! The house that he lives in is totally indescribable, however, his joy and laughter fills the room," she said. Over the past few weeks Livingstone has been in and out of his house bringing him food and making sure that he is happy and taken care of.
Annagh Rafferty, also one of the aspirant youth workers from North Belfast and part of the 'SA 2012' journey was deeply touched by two little girls from Blanco, Poppie (4) and Twinkle (7). Her story of how the two little girls are growing up and their circumstances at home has not only touched her, but also the government in Northern Ireland. They are supporting her to come to South Africa for nine months to do what she believes she is destined to do - helping the needy trapped in dire circumstances.
The 27 members of the 'SA 2013' journey that has left for Cape Town on Wednesday has already started making plans for fundraisers for next year, when they are returning to South Africa. Every year, they are encouraged to do more and more for the people because they want to see the townships transformed with positive change.
'SA 2014' and many more outreach journeys are on the way, with the team encouraging: "People, help the people!"
Thomas Turley and Sean Mcmullan on one of their 'reaching out to the community' attempts, giving out soup to people in Golden Valley, Blanco.
