Youth centre helps to empower Tembisan youth
If you want to learn more about the Get Informed Youth Development Centre’s services, contact the organisation at lesego@getinformed.org.za
Lack of skills in the township exacerbates the impact of poverty and unemployment in Ekurhuleni and Gauteng as a whole.
Social entrepreneur Lesego Tshabalala works hard to provide solutions by giving young people the required skills to be employable.
Through the Get Informed Youth Development Centre, Tshabalala has facilitated the development of mainstream and social entrepreneurs programme, the setting up of a victim empowerment service centre at the local police stations and the implementation of job readiness and employment programmes with 200 beneficiaries.
“We have provided extensive opportunities for youth volunteerism projects offered by the National Youth Development Agency’s Youth Building Programme. Our events are supported by the local government, corporates and partners in NPOs and SMMEs sectors,” said Tshabalala.
Through the mentorship of Khulisa Social Solutions, Tshabalala established the Get Informed Youth Development Centre in 2013.
He explained how the tragedy that befell his family in 1996 forced him to abandon his dream of studying further.
“So I became unemployable. What happened to my family affected my career, and caused conflict in my family that left me feeling lonely and worried at times.
“I came into contact with Khulisa when I was only 16 years old.
“Once I matured I started working for Khulisa as a facilitator on HIV/Aids and Drugs Awareness Programmes in Tembisa schools.
During these facilitation programmes in Tembisa, I identified challenges facing the youth in the area. They had no one to guide them and nowhere to access information,” explained Tshabalala.
In response to the needs he had identified among the youth, Tshabalala engaged extensively with young people through his own NPO, the Get Informed Youth Development Centre.
Tshabalala said in 2012 an opportunity presented itself within the Tembisa community where he worked.
“At the time, Khulisa Ubuntu Club’s project was being funded by the Gauteng Department of Social Development for Youth Development Services.
“The plan was that the following year I would be required to initiate a community-based NPO, with the assistance of Khulisa.
“The NPO would create opportunities for misguided, desperate and lonely youths to gather together and begin to tell their stories”.
“Also, the challenges facing the youth inspired the NPO to establish projects to fight poverty and unemployment in Tembisa,” he said.
If you want to learn more about the Get Informed Youth Development Centre’s services, contact the organisation at lesego@getinformed.org.za.
