Sinethemba YOUTH Development Center

Happy birthday Nash

Sinethemba Marimba Band performing at the launch of 16 Days of Activism Campaign in Hornlee. Well done Nash and the girls!

Sinethemba Youth Marimba Band will be performing today live at the 16 Days of Activism launch at the Hornlee Civic. Come and check us out! Girl power!

We would like to congratulate Sinethemba’s very own auxiliary social worker on his esteemed election to the Knysna Youth Council…. well done Sipha!

We could think of no one better with such a great understanding of the challenges our Knysna youth face, than you, for this responsible elected position of leadership 💫

You really have gone from strength to strength 🙏🏼

Photos from Hornlee Primary School's post

Our director, Michael Smith, inspiring the youth ☺️

Patrao Surance, owner of CX LAPTOPS coming to Sinethemba today to share his life story. Thank you Patrao for making a difference!

To conclude this past week's school holiday program we had Antonio Cleophas, a local artist, to facilitate a dance program at the Centre. The children were having so much fun that they requested him to come and do it as part of the DIC programs. Thank you Antonio for your willingness to come and showcase your gift and potentially creating an opportunity for these youngsters to discover their hidden talents.

Fire Department conducting an awareness program on Friday. As a result of a fire in the Nothern areas they unfortunately had to leave before they could finish the session, but it has been rescheduled.

School holiday educational outing yesterday with Eugene and Natalie visiting art galleries in Knysna. This outing was in prep of the art classes that will be conducted at Sinethemba by Eugene and Natalie. The children enjoyed the day out and they can't wait for the art classes to start. Thank you Eugene and Nat for spending your day with us.

School holiday programme on the go with KILT facilitator, Elvis Djanse. Our marimba band is back on track thanks to Nashville Van Rooyen.

Sinethemba, SAPS, DSD, KADC and VICTIM SUPPORT at the schools outreach project at Hornlee Primary School last week. The aim of this outreach is to make children aware of the dangers of bullying, gender based violence, substance awareness and just the importance of staying in school. This initiative has been implemented at various other schools in Hornlee the past few months.

Michael donating bags of hot-cushion material to sewing ladies in Damsebos community

Life skill programme at the Drop in Centre

Well done to our Sinethemba Youth Development Centre director, Michael Smith, on his Accredited level 1 Table Tennis coach in Eden certification 🏓

Awareness campaign:
Today we are going to the streets to distribute flyers to businesses for their customers.

Sinethemba giving hope to youth who have suffered rejection on so many levels. All of the intakes this year were identified by the schools as overaged learners, hence they were referred to Sinethemba. Monday to Thursday we offer ABET classes at the Centre facilitated by qualified ABET educators. Our biggest concern remains the access to skills development since they don't meet the criteria of Skills Centres locally.

Street outreach last week Friday as part of Child Protection Month with Knysna SAPS, CPF and All Sound.

Out of school youth in Knysna requires serious attention. This is what we are dealing with daily. These youngsters varies from 11 to 17 years old either being suspended or transferred from a school as a result of absenteeism or criminal behavior. This is the age group that is a big concern, not forgetting that 90% of them have a learning difficulty, hence they end up frustrated and letting out through violent behavior. Much need to be done to sort this out before street children in Knysna become the next pandemic. This is a community problem and it needs a community solution. I'm waiting in anticipation!

The numbers of out of school youth is growing at an alarming rate. At one stage last week we had an attendance of 21 on one day. Are we still experiencing the after effects of the pandemic or are we as a society failing our youth?

DSD Social Auxiliary workers facilitating a life skill program at Sinethemba

Michael Smith addressing educators and pupils at Fraaisig Primary School a week ago about BULLYING.

Freedom Day event in collaboration with the NACCW Youth Forum was a huge success.

Noleen Dirkse from FOUNDATION OF HOPE doing an awareness program at Sinethemba this morning. Much appreciation to a remarkable woman.

NATIONAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (NYDA) INFORMATION SESSIONS

The Knysna Municipal youth desk hereby invites all youth to attend information sessions hosted by National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to discuss their services and products that are available:

• Grant programme
• Voucher programme
• Mentorship
• Market Linkages
• Job Programme
• Job Preparedness Training
• Business Management Training
• Life Skills Training
• National Youth Services

The sessions are to commence on 11 February 2022 in the facilities as per the below schedule:

Smutsville
Smutsville Community Hall
9h00

Rheenendal
Rheenendal Community Hall
10h30

Hornlee
Hornlee Community Hall
11h30

Khayalethu
Khayalethu Community Hall
12h15

White Location
White Location Multi-Purpose Centre Hall
13h00

Due to limited time, NYDA will not be able to cover all wards. If there is no session in your ward, please visit the nearest session.

Coming Soon!!! START REGISTERING! Send us your child's name and surname, age, school, residential address, contact number to whatsapp no 0611453579 not later then the end of January 2022.

Educational trip to SANPARKS just now as part of the holiday program

…..9 years ago 😃

Team building workshop yesterday with Knysna Community Learning Centre (ABET EDUCATORS)

Just want to wish my colleague, NASHVILLE VAN ROOYEN, a Happy birthday. May you continue to be the rock that you are. Love and respect bro.

These past few weeks we have been challenged to confiscate dagga from the boys attending the Centre. It is sad to say that all these youngsters are younger than 14 years of age. I just felt that we needed to get in the help from the SAPS to make these boys aware of the dangers of smoking and selling dagga. Some of them are selling on behalf of older men in the community and they are so hard-core that they won't reveal any names.it is a every day battle trying to change their perception of life and of their future. I want to express my gratitude to these two constables for making time yesterday to encourage our children to stay away from drugs.

Sinethemba providing a safe haven for children during their off days at school. Most of them would otherwise have been roaming the streets unsupervised. Thank you KILT drumming team for equipping our children with valuable listening and hand coordination skills two days a week.

Volunteer Becci’s last day was Thursday!

Becci is a qualified confidence coach from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and joined us for a month

Thank you Becci for joining the Sinethemba family and your help with our youth. We truly appreciate your time, enthusiasm and outgoing energy

Success story:
For more than a year we've been trying to help this mother to get, first a birth certificate and to apply for an ID. Her 10 year old boy in the photo has never been in school due to the lack of his birth certificate. Today, after much anticipation, she received her first ever ID as well as the child birth certificate. Now, we will try our best to get him registered for school. I would like to extend my appreciation to our Social work team, Zonke Ndzwana and Siphamandla Hala hala for supporting this mother throughout lockdown.

Fantastic Heritage Day celebrations at Sinethemba. Soccer, table tennis, pool, drama, poetry, dancing, games and big pots of soup for hungry stomachs. A brilliant turn out and wonderful traditional dress. A few photos and videos we took 🇿🇦

Happy Heritage Day to all!

The Sinethemba festivities start at 11am until 2pm celebrating our South African heritage