Department of Community Safety paving a bright future for South Africa’s youth

On Saturday 29^th July 2017, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety, Dan Plato attended and addressed the graduation ceremony of the latest participants in the rigorous three month development programme for youth at risk at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai.

Minister Plato handed over certificates to 178 young men from across the Western Cape, including Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, Hanover Park, Ceres, Plettenberg Bay, George, Mossel Bay, Saldanha and Avian Park.

The Chrysalis Academy runs a three month youth development programme for youth across the Western Cape who are not in employment, education, or training, have a minimum Grade 9, no criminal record and who are residents of the Western Cape.

Following their graduation on Saturday, all 178 of them have started their 12 month work placement opportunities with the Department of Community Safety’s safety partners.

These include local Municipalities, City improvement districts, SAPS offices, Community Health Centres, Hospitals, Day Care Centres and at the Chrysalis Academy.

Graduation day for Chrysalis participants is not only a celebration of successfully completing the programme but also a new lease on life through the opportunities they have already taken hold of and those that await after graduation.

Course Management

The course is conducted over a period of 3 months with approximately 180 participants. There are three intakes per year with two set aside for males and one for females. The course consists of an Orientation, Outdoor and Skills phase.

Orientation Phase - The three week Orientation Phase introduces students to a series of Life Orientation classes to promote resilience, self-awareness and improved interpersonal communication. Moreover this phase introduces students to the structured environment and focusses on the basics of fitness and outlining the programme for the rest of the course.

Outdoor Phase - During the 2 week outdoor phase, students are exposed to out-door fun and exploration of both natural landscape and mountains around the academy.

This develops their mental strength and teaches them to plan and use resources effectively.

Skills Phase – The skills phase introduces students to basic vocational skills to prepare them for the workplace, these include computer, cookery, electrical, welding, youth care and sports coaching skills.

The Chrysalis Youth Academy’s approach and vision is to become the leading academy for youth development in the Republic of South Africa. The main focus is human development and youth are encouraged to focus on their spiritual, emotional and physical levels in order to release their inner potential.

In essence, the activities and topics introduced are supporting the objectives of steering youth away from alcohol and drug abuse and improvement towards life skills and career choices. The department continues to fund Chrysalis Academy and strives to pave a brighter future for South Africa’s youth.