Department of Community Safety to Fund Youth Safety Programmes Over Festive Season

Media Release by Dan Plato, Western Cape Minister of Community Safety

It gives me great pleasure in announcing that the Department of Community Safety will once again be providing funding for youth safety initiatives run by our faith based organisations over the upcoming festive season and holiday period.

In promoting a whole of society approach towards improving safety in the Western Cape, the Department of Community Safety is partnering with the religious community to help keep our youth safe over the December/January festive season.

I cannot emphasise enough how important the faith-based structures are in our communities. It is here where good morals and values can be learned. I believe that it is of the utmost importance to instill a good set of morals and values in our youth from an early age, and aside from the parents, I believe that these community structures are best positioned to do this.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is often the first port of call when it comes to crime and safety concerns, but it is not SAPS’ responsibility alone.

To increase safety effectively, the whole of society’s contribution is needed, because safety is everyone’s responsibility and it is necessary to look across society to find solutions. That is why we are calling on the religious community and faith-based organisations to come forward and apply for funding that can be used to run youth safety programmes in identified high crime areas over the upcoming festive season.

The programmes must be youth-focused, educational, cultural or sport based, with the aim of building self-esteem and confidence, and should encourage the youth to seek positive direction in life, and develop positive life skills.

The department will support these activities at a rate of up to R50 per youth participant on condition that these activities take place in the identified high crime areas, run for the duration of eight hours or more, includes a minimum of ten youth, a maximum of 150, with a focus on youth aged 14-20 (other youth are, however, not excluded), and includes at least one nutritious meal for all participants.

The Department will monitor the implementation of these initiatives with dedicated facilitation teams ensuring that they add value to the youth and give effect to the Western Capes Government’s (WCG) vision of creating an open opportunity society for all and increasing safety in the Western Cape.

For all funding application enquiries:

Amelia Pieters
Tel:  021 483 3971
E-mail: amelia.pieterse@westerncape.gov.za

Applications must be received before the close of business on 22 November 2013.

This is an example of how communities and the Western Cape Government can form partnerships which are aimed at making us all safe – because we are Better Together.