The Up Up Up Youth Project, a non-profit organisation, celebrated its 20th anniversary with an educational tour of the Kruger National Park (KNP).

Sixty-eight young people living in areas between Mngaduzweni and Hazyview, and the greater Nsikazi region were treated to the tour on Thursday, October 24.

The project’s founder, Pr Simon Mdluli, said the aim was to give the local youth the opportunity to learn more about the park and its offerings. He said they collaborated with the South African Human Rights Commission in Mpumalanga to facilitate the tour. “It formed part of our free programmes to somewhat uplift young people. It targets people who are unemployed and those who are unable to visit the KNP otherwise, so they can learn about the park’s history, the different animals found there and even the career choices available. Our target was to host 80 people, but we are happy that these 68 made use of this opportunity,” he said.

Mdluli said the aim of the Up Up Up Youth Project is to develop young people by making information more accessible to them. “Our mission since 2004 has been to help youths reach their goals. We link those who are unemployed and without further education with learnerships and skills development opportunities, and refer those who are struggling with alcohol and substance abuse to health organisations. More than 5 000 individuals have benefitted from this project.”

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The project can be accessed at three stations located in eMhlambanyatsi/Mahushu and Mnganduzweni in the Ehlanzeni District, and in Kinross in the Gert Sibande District.

Mdluli said some of their goals is to establish a drug and substance rehabilitation centre and a disciplinary camp, to have more educational tours to other provinces, to hold a marathon to promote healthy lifestyles among the youth and to have community awareness campaigns to fight against crime and other social ills.