Western Cape Government Offers Youth Programming during school holidays

Jaime-faith Poonah and Rebecca Gibian
25 June 2015

The Western Cape Education Department will once again offer holiday programmes during the winter school holidays.


The MEC of Education Department, Debbie Schafer, said over the holiday period the WCED’s safe schools directorate arranged increased security at some high risk identified schools.

 
Four hundred and thirteen schools will benefit from holiday security, 56 schools will have 24 hour security while 357 will have 12 hour security and benefit from cluster patrols.

 
MEC Schafer added that the Education Department specifically has safe schools holiday programs in each district, covering topics such as peer pressure, moral values, substance abuse, HIV/Aids and sexual abuse, also truancy, gangsterism and bullying.

 

Schafer explained that there is also a programmed designed for young women called Girls in Motion Life Skills Programme as well as fun activities such hiking, kayaking, board games, arts and crafts as well as drama and dance classes.

 
The Department of Community Safety continues as well with ongoing and targeted youth programmes and interventions across the province.

With R5.8 million spent on benefiting 27 000 children and youth over the past three years already, this year the programme will expand to R8 million for both June and December holidays.

 
MEC of Community Safety, Dan Plato explained that the Department of Community Safety partnered with 119 religious institutions, both mosques and churches to reach out to the youngsters to get them off the streets and into a safe environment.

 
Meanwhile, the Western Cape Department of Social Development plans to host numerous school holiday programmes through the youth programme in the department and via the six regional offices.

 
Some of the programmes will be held in partnership with provincial and local government structures across the province.

 
MEC of Social Development, Albert Fritz said an important point about the holiday programme is that it always forms part of the annual performance plan.

 
He explained that the programme is conceptualized and planned from April 1 right through March, taking into consideration the holiday periods.

 
Fritz also explained that most of the programs are determined by kids, by the youth, and that they have a say in how the programs are run. 

 

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