Overview
Our academic and youth empowerment programme supports high school learners aged 14 to 17, focusing on improving academic outcomes and holistic development. The initiative is implemented in partnership with six inner-city schools and multiple stakeholders. It combines tutoring, mentoring, life skills, and extracurricular activities—including music and the arts—to create a supportive, growth-oriented environment.
The programme is based on evidence-based methodologies, including the gold-youth Employment Accelerator research model. It aligns with our partners’ broader goals, such as The Learning Trust, Urbanartsemble, ELM, BFW, and LWF.
Through partnerships with liaison teachers, young volunteers and interns are strategically placed to provide targeted academic and psychosocial support. These volunteers are selected based on subject knowledge and mentored into leadership roles, allowing them to grow from volunteers into respected facilitators.
Scope and Reach
- Total Learners Reached: 503 (Unique participants, grades 8–12)
- Number of Participating Schools: six inner-city schools
- Total Youth Volunteers and Interns Engaged: 48 (stipend, through The Learning Trust)
- Total Life Skills Workshops Held: 39
- Total Music & Marimba Participants: 53
- Special Skills/Technical Training Participants: 26 (Grade 8s at Dominican Convent)
- Entrepreneurship Training Participants: 30 (3-day workshop)
Programme components
1. Academic support
Academic tutoring was delivered both during and after school hours, with homework help, group study sessions, and weekend revision classes. Feedback from schools indicates that:
- 43 learners improved in Mathematics.
- 36 learners showed improved classroom focus.
- 90 learners regularly received academic support across three schools.
- Additional tutoring helped Grade 8 learners at Dominican Convent develop skills in carpentry and food preparation.
2. Music, Marimba & Technology
- 36 learners (25 males and 11 females) received piano and music theory instruction using the UNISA curriculum.
- 17 learners participated in the marimba programme.
- 5 awards were won at the annual Education Africa International Steelpan & Marimba Festival:
- 1st: Open Small Ensemble – “In the Mix”
- 2nd: Open Small Ensemble – “Battle of the Bands”
- 3rd: Open Small Ensemble – “Proudly South African”
- Participants also attended a music recording workshop, gaining hands-on experience with digital music technology.
3. Life skills and personal development
Workshops addressed critical issues, empowering learners with tools to navigate complex social realities:
- Peer pressure
- Gender equality and rights
- HIV/AIDS awareness
- Teenage pregnancy prevention
- Food hygiene and healthy eating
- Environmental awareness
- Substance abuse prevention
- Violence prevention and anti-xenophobia
- Personal identity and civic education
- Self-esteem and mental health
- Internet safety
4. Career exposure and entrepreneurship
- A group of thirty learners visited the SCI-BONO Career Centre, where they explored fields like AI, IT, and engineering and participated in career guidance and emotional intelligence assessments.
- SCI-BONO is committed to selecting two learners for future international training opportunities.
- A three-day entrepreneurship workshop that trained youth in business plan development, marketing, finance, and registration processes.
5. Special events & dialogue spaces
- Youth Transformation Event: Engaged 456 learners, facilitating stakeholder engagement, career guidance, and workshops in sexual health, civic education, creative arts, and financial literacy.
- “My June 16” Youth Month Event: Hosted 125 learners in grades 8–9 with five stakeholder-led workshops on issues like drugs, sexuality, values, and self-esteem.
Impact feedback
“Being a peer educator has taught me a valuable lesson about parental love… I’ve decided to change my mindset… I now appreciate the love my parents give us.” – Zinhle (14), St Aquinas College
“I sometimes struggle to connect with my children… This programme taught us better communication. My daughter’s confidence has grown so much. I’m also learning to be a better person.” – Mavis, Parent, St Aquinas College
“SCI-BONO opened my mind to what I can be… I didn’t know engineering had so many career options until I saw it for myself.” – Learner, Newgate College
Key highlights
- A total of 503 learners received structured academic and life-skills support.
- 5 awards won in music categories at international competitions.
- 39 life-skills workshops conducted across various development themes.
- 26 learners gained hands-on technical training in carpentry and food preparation.
- 30 youth trained in entrepreneurship and business planning.
- 48 volunteers transformed from youth assistants into skilled facilitators.