Youth for Christ

Longer Term Opportunities

South Africa (3 options)

Why Did You Go?
General Advice
What Did You Do?
What Challenges Did you face?
What was a Highlight?

1/ CAPE TOWN YFC

Cape Town Youth for Christ runs an international volunteer team and it is possible to join them from the UK for options of 6 or 12 months. The recommended time is at least 6 months, as it takes time to adjust to the programme and also to get to know the young people in schools and children’s homes. However, it is possible to go for a shorter time and there is always the option of a 2-week summer team to give you a taster of the ministry and the amazing country of South Africa. See below for programme details.

2/ Knysna YFC

6 or 12 months placements, starting date January.  Located on the south coast, the work includes schoolswork, pregnancy counselling, HIV aids work, leadership development, camps and prison ministry.

Website: www.yfc.co.za

3/ Mpumalanga YFC

3,6 or 12 months, starting date January.  Based near Kruger National Park in the north east of the country, the ministry includes work in around 50 schools, historically disadvantaged communities and church youth groups. The team work with unemployed teens, homeless young people besides vulnerable girls and young women. Voluntary options for youth workers, administrators, trainers in youth-related issues.  

Website: www.yfcmpu.co.za

Here are some details of the Cape Town Programme

Programmes/Projects

SOS Children’s Village - Twice per week the team engage in volunteer work at Cape Town’s SOS Children’s Village. This is a local branch of an international organization which has “children’s villages” set up for orphans all over the world. (You can find out more about the international organization at their website — www.sosvillages.org.za)  In these villages the children live in houses with their “family,” which normally consists of one house mother and about 8 children. The children attend local schools in the surrounding community, and are allowed to live in the village until they reach the age of 18 (or longer, if they need more time to adjust to life outside the village).  YFC’s goals within the village, at the moment, are to build relationships with the young people, which they do by visiting on Mondays and Wednesdays, and to help the children develop skills and abilities that they can use when they leave the village. To facilitate this they run a Life Skills programme and Bible studies for children aged 13 years and upwards. In Life Skills they work on core concepts like self-identity and basic values, and they also discuss topics like drug and alcohol abuse and HIV/AIDS.

Vissershok Primary School — This is a rural school, approximately 12 km from the YFC office. The children who attend this school historically would be from farming communities, but a neighbouring township is now also transporting young people to this school. Most township schools in South Africa are overcrowded and it is fairly common for students to travel or walk long distances if they can find placements in other schools. The students at this school range from the age of 4 to 14 yrs old. The Headmaster of the school is very welcoming to YFC and at this point would like to see them involved in the following areas:

 

• Teaching Life Orientation lessons in Grade 6
• Leading sports classes
• Leading creative workshops using drama and art
• Running a Christian Union
• Helping with a Feeding Scheme on Mondays

The team particularly excited about the potential of this school project as there is so much opportunity to be creative and innovative in writing, planning and implementing new programmes.

Adventure Outreach and Camping (AOC) — This is a proven method of enabling young people to reach their full potential — being away from their daily routine and placed far outside their comfort zone. With a focus on ‘Experiential Learning’ it is an opportunity for team building, demonstrating the importance of interdependence. Camp is also a time for young people to take a breather from their studies and have the time of their lives! It is a time to expand horizons and make memories that will last a lifetime. We therefore run these camps to impact the young people’s lives in a memorable way…. camps/hikes form part of the programme and normally happen from a Friday to a Sunday.

Karl Bremer Hospital – The hospital is located in the suburb of Belleville, approximately 12 km from the office. There are three projects in this area of work:  Kangaroo Mums, the Paediatric Ward and Labour Care. Kangaroo Mums are those who stay with their babies in the hospital for anywhere from a few weeks to several months. By planning and facilitating great programmes, YFC can provide entertainment, growth, fellowship, and joy. Their approach is holistic, considering the women physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. Programmes such as hair-dressing and make-up, walks in the halls or gardens, teaching the women practical skills such as beading, card-making, reading aloud, group discussions, and one-to-one conversations help accomplish this goal.  In the Paediatric ward, they provide a variety of activities e.g. games, activities, puppet shows, stories, and songs, specially tailored for any child, whether they are able-bodied or extremely disabled. For the Labour Care programme, there will be specific training, enabling volunteers to support young women who come to the hospital alone to have their babies.  By staying with the mothers during initial labour, YFC staff and volunteers provide essential emotional and spiritual support.  Currently, they visit the hospital two full days a week.

Botswana (1 location)

6, 12 month placements starting in January. Opportunities for longer-term placements alongside YFC staff and volunteers in a country bordering South Africa.  Ministry includes: schoolswork, drama & dance teams, children's ministry, clubs, adventure camps, leadership training and sport.  Volunteers from Europe and the USA join the staff in reaching out to young people in a country where more than half the population are under 21 years old.

Website: www.yfcbotswana.1colony.com

The Gambia (1 location)

Situated in West Africa, this English-speaking country has a population of about 1.5 million, the majority of whom are muslim (95%). YFC is based in Fajara which is about 30 mins from Banjul, the capital city. Their ministry includes schoolswork, HIV/Aids teaching, mentoring, community clubs, discipleship groups, dance team and church work. There is also village evangelism and hospital ministry. YFC Gambia organise a youth summer camp up country and youth rallies in Serrekunda, the largest city in The Gambia.

Website: www.yfci.org/g21africa

Australia YFC

There are some exciting options for working alongside staff and youth workers with Australia YFC:

Melbourne YFC: to achieve their vision of ‘empowering young people through holistic support and positive relationships’, YFC provides programmes which include support & accommodation for homeless young people; visitation & rehabilitation programmes for young offenders; youth worker training sessions; schools work across the city; underage nightclub activities including ‘battle of the bands’, skate clinics; creative arts competitions and much more!

Placements of 2 months upwards from April – November.

Northern Downs YFC:  the programme is mainly involved in local Primary and High schools, delivering RE lessons and participating in ‘GodSpace’ the Australian curriculum.  There is also opportunity to work alongside some church youth workers in the area.  During school holidays, clubs and other outreach events are organised.

Placements from mid-February – mid-November considered.

Western Australia YFC:  Strong schools programme with touring musical programmes, TV broadcasts, adventure programmes and counselling services being added to the regular activities. Possibility of placements from 3 weeks up to 2 months.  There is an exciting 3-week mission trip planned in June 09 from Perth out to Derby, Tom Price, Halls Creek and Kununurra, plus visiting Karinjini National Park.

Central Coast YFC: has great opportunities for working in local high schools, including one-to-one mentoring, No Limits (an experiential learning environment encouraging students in their God-given potential and value), discipleship programmes, small groups exploring faith, Christian lunch-time groups, one50 Dance-hip hop classes and AusLife (an issue-based programme that runs for a day with an entire year group).

Website:  www.yfc.org.au

Any queries to judy.lloyd@yfc.co.uk   Tel: 0121 502 9620
 

Today is: 13 March 2010, Saturday