Conquest for Life Annual Report 2007 - 8

8/3/2019 Conquest for Life Annual Report 2007 - 8

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Contents

1. About Conquest For Life 12. Directors Report 23. Our Projects

3.1 Youth At Risk 4

3.2 Building Bridges Diversion Project 5

3.3 Youth Enrichment Project 6

3.4 Just For Kids 7

3.5 Arts & Culture (Siyasizana) 9

3.6 Computer Training 10

3.7 Reathusana Youth Child Justice Project 11

3.8 Victim Offender Conference 12

3.9 Young Mothers Project 13

3.10 Exchange Programme 14

4. Office and Staff 155. Financial Report 166. Funders 20


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1. About Conquest For Life

Conquest For Life was established in 1995 in Westbury, a township 8km west of Johannesburg.

A group of young people came together to initiate innovate approaches to complex problems

facing their community and, in doing so, make a difference in the lives of their family and

friends. The Organisation has expanded its Westbury facilities by opening four new branches in

other disadvantaged communities, i.e., the communities of Soweto, Ennerdale, Orange Farm andReigerPark. Conquest For Life aims to empower the youth through a myriad of programs

designed to produce a safe and structured environment in which the youth can realize their

potential and have access to the life skills needed to enrich their lives. Our target group includes

unemployed, out of school youth, youth in conflict with the law, parents, and people in the

community interested in mentoring. Conquest For Life started in a dynamic, predominantly

coloured community, it is characterized by an unemployment rate of over 80%, a very high

school dropout rate, extreme family stress, poverty, very limited recreational facilities and

substance abuse. The following is a reflection of most of the townships in South Africa. The

severe lack of extra-curricular and recreational activities, mean that children and young people

spend a lot of time on the streets bloming (loafing/hanging around) or sitting in crammed flats.

Conquest For Life believes that bad kids are not born they are made, which means they can

remade. As violence, bad manners and gangsterism are learned; so can good self-presentation,love and peaceful ways of resolving conflict.

MISSION STATEMENT

To be a self-sustaining youth organisation, run by young people, empowered to become

agents of change by developing their identity, self worth, and a sense of community.

OBJECTIVES

Developing a Sense of SelfYoung people in South Africa need time, space and a safe environment in which to pursue

alternatives to their current lifestyles. Conquest For Life has created and established this

environment through a number of projects which give young people a variety of opportunitiesto redefine themselves from a minus to a plus; a failure to success and from a nobody to

somebody.

Strengthening Family StructuresOne of the main problems in the townships is the lack of family values and poor family

structures and environments. Single parent families headed by the mother are common,

leaving young men without positive male role models. For every project Conquest For Life

has incorporated a family/parent component (e.g. workshops, computer courses, volunteering)

as a way of addressing this problem.

Strengthening Community StructuresConquest For Life is attempting to open up and strengthen dialogue between the child/youngperson, parent, community institutions (e.g. schools, community centres) and the wider

community to ensure a holistic and sustainable approach to addressing community concerns.

Youth Development & EmpowermentThe majority of staff came to Conquest For Life through participating in youth camps or after

school activities and are therefore well placed to relate to other beneficiaries.


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1. Directors ReportThe past two years have been very challenging for every one in the country and people all over

the world. We have seen various things happening all around us. The only thing that is constant is

change. In order for any one to survive in this day and age, you have to remain with the times

change. Over the past 13 years I have learned a lot and I have also made many mistakes. Every

time I make a mistake I remember the words of Dr Cooper that sounds fresh like yesterday,Glen, we are and we will make mistakes but we should learn from our mistakes. All of us here

at Conquest learn from our mistakes and we try and improve on a daily basis. For every setback,

there is a comeback. If there is a way into a situation, there is a way out of it.

With this in mind I am confident and I believe in the official marketing strategy of this country

South Africa, alive with possibilities! The past we have extended Conquest For Life into the

East Rand. We have done some work in the east but could not cement the work as we did not

have a base to operate from. We have identify a piece of property in Boksburg City and tried to

negotiate with the department of public works for space. After we were referred from pillar to

post, we decided to rather create our identity into the East Rand. The office in Reiger

Park has been set up.

Above:Social Entrepreneur, Award Winner CEO and Founder of Conquest For Life -Glen Steyn

Conquest For Lifemoved into their own office in Soweto. The organisation further developed

their partnership in Eastern Cape and their interest in the US and UK . We also RegisteredConquest For Life as a trade mark in the UK, US and SA. The trade mark in the UK was

approved and in SA it went Through the last stages as the process in SA is very slow. Myself

and Conquest For Life featured in three programs on television this year The Learning Channel,

Its my Life on SABC 1 and I was a guest on Kaelo stories of Hope. Towards the middle of2007, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship listed me as one of ten semi-finalists

for the Social Entrepreneur Award 2007 in South Africa. Through the award, the Schwab

Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Ernst & Young seek to recognize and encourage the

spirit of social entrepreneurship.


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During August 2007, we featured on Kaelo Stories of Hope and it was screened on SABC 2.With limited staff and resources we managed under trying circumstances to maintain and sustain

our programs. The Conquest staff members have been fernonminal. Their commitment,

enthusiasm and dedication to the mission and vision of the organisation have been undoubtedly

GREAT Thank you guys!!

Above: Glen Steyn playing with children in the Just For Kids Program

Our participants and customers have been patient with us as we were faced with many

challengers. We promise to deliver a service second to none. We are committed to constantly

improve the quality of our service. We are dedicated to quality youth work. To all our donors,

funders and partners with whom we are not able to do what we doing, we say Thank you verymuch Many of you have been walking with us for many years and for that we are grateful. To

our latest partners who are coming on board to further strengthening our hands, we say Welcome

and thank you for believing in our vision and dream.

To the chairperson and the board, I want to thank for you all for your constant faith in my

Leadership, thank you for your support. My dream is to build a Conquest For Life for the next

100 years. Conquest For Life must become a household name for the millions of young people all

over the world. When one mentions children and young people, there should be a direct link to

Conquest For Life. Conquest should be like fresh running water to somebody that has been in the

desert for quite some time. Thank you all.


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3. Our Projects

3.1 Youth at Risk (YAR) Project

The YAR programmes consist of a three week Life Skills Camp, Mentorship Programme and

Parent & Community Programme. They focus on youths at risk of getting involved in

gangersterism and substance abuse, the unemployed and the youth out of school. The three weekLife Skills Camp takes place four times a year. The past year we have managed to facilitate 3

camps that have catered for a total number of 143 participants. Of all those who attended, 54 are

now working, 39 went back to school and 36 are out of school and unemployed. 2 of the

participants are self-employed and 14 of them we were unable to trace.

Above: Participants on a YAR camp

Since I came back from the camp things have been better at home and they are starting to trust me. I have

been promised a job by my uncle because he believes that I am a better person now and that is all thanks to

Conquest for life.

Desmond

Bongane Sitholi wrote during a conflict management evaluation I learned that good conflict can turn

bad and you should position yourself safe from it. We should be able to trust each other and work as a

group. He said that he will control the conflict that arise and try to avoid bad conflict.

Above: Participants learning a various skills ay the camps

I am 23 years old and I was a participant at the camp 2006 and I have learned so much on how to become

my self and to think positive always and to choose write people that will go with my stand of thinking and I

did take those work and work with them. Now after I come back from the camp I meet a friend at the camp

he was a participant and we did start our organization called STARS OF AFRICA Tshepiso Tsotetsi


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3.2 Building Bridges Diversion Project

The building Bridges Diversion Project focuses mainly on youth at risk, be it court

referred, problematic and other community youth structures that want to overhaul their

past and negotiate sustainable life giving systems, which resolve deep-rooted conflicts, sothat in the end, people can claim, we have done it ourselves. Conquest For Life has

created opportunities for youth in conflict with the law and at risk youth to educate and

gain life skills. These skills are achieved by themselves in a neutral and encouraging

environment. During the past year 306 young people were referred by the court, schools,parent and the community at large. 270 successfully completed the program and 36 were

referred back to court either because they did not complete the program or they refused to

participate in the program. In addition theses young people participated in 3 weekendcamps.

The program really helped me to

stop taking drugs and doing

wrong things. I have leant a lot

from the life skill program

especially about angermanagement. Mokgele Dibe

Below: Some of the participants at camp

Below: Learning to trust their peers

Above: Overcoming their problems

Coming to the diversion program was a big challenge

for me because most of the time when I was at home

my father used to give me alcohol to drink so that

even made me drop out of school so my challenge

was that you cant come to the program drunk.When time went by I started telling my father and

my mother that I wont drink again because when

am drunk I do funny things, so I told my self that

I will stop and when we did the different types of Drugs at the diversion program I became aware that what

am doing is wrong and with the help of the staff I was able to quite alcohol and taking further steps ahead

of me so that I can be respected in the community so thanks to Conquest for life I hope it will continue

helping other like me. Brent Watson


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3.3 Youth Enrichment Project

The Youth Enrichment Project (YEP) consists of three programmes which together empower

young people to develop their community in a safe, secure and structured environment, through

the strengthening of links between young people, parents, teachers and the wider community. The

three programmes focus on after-school activities to develop a sense of self, academic

achievement and skills. Typical activities include weekend camps, holiday excursions and trips, aprogramme of outreach to the community and parent workshops. We had a number of 11 280

children attending the programme this past year. Two camps were held during the school

holidays. Over 90% of the children involved in the Project passed their exams.

I like coming to the after care because we

do lots of things like spelling test and

reading so that we can improve in our

English.

Thabo

I am 12 years old and I have been coming

to Conquest For life since 2006. I have learn

so much at after care and the most importantthing I have learned at Conquest is having

friends and teachers that help me with my

school work as well as to teach me life

skills. On Fridays I am having fun playing

with the Teachers.

Karabo Mashaba

Above: Children singing and dancing.

Since I started at the conquest for

life after care I have been

practicing maths and English but Icould not speak right so now every

Tuesday we do spelling test and it

has been improving my English. I

enjoy being at the after care

program because it really helped

me a lot.

Tumi Sephiri

Below: Children seeing snow for the first time in Joburg during a holiday camp

I learned to read so nice, to share with other

kids mad to respect the kids at the aftercare

programs will like to help other children

when they need help.

Slinile Majozi


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3.4 Just For Kids

The Just for Kids (JFK) programme brings children from all ages and culture together through

play. The programme encourages constructive ways of solving conflict and in so doing helps

children build their self awareness and to make a friends by starting with a simple hand shake.

The games allow the children to express themselves physically and to communicate differently,

through play without having to say a word. Every game that is played with the children has afocus theme. Conquest For Life has managed to run the JFK Project within 94 schools. The

teachers and principals seem extremely happy with the programme, and most of the schools have

asked us to facilitate the JFK programme with the whole school. We had 172 200 children

participate in the sessions during the year.

The JFK is good for us because while they are teaching us every week we are changing our lives and

learning to stand for ourselves.

Faith Sekgobela from Spectrum Primary school

Left: Children participating in a Just For Kids Play session.

During the JFK session I have learned that we

should respect one another and share emotions.

Imaan Holmes from Bernard Isaacs Primary

grade 7D

I have learned how to trust someone and make someone trust you. You guys should always come to our

school because you motivate most of our learners and you guys are great. I wouldnt mind to be one of you

guys you Rock!

Hazel Hilmer from Riverlea Secondary grade 11E5


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Conquest For Life are proud to have a Partnership with the following schools:

I learned about Trust and he had realized that he

need to trust him self first then he can trust the others,

then Mpho said for her and the family to be unite all

the time the must they had to build a better

relationship that has love, caring and supportive.

John

Above: Children at Westbury Primary School.

I am 17 years old and in grade 11 at Skhumbuzo

Secondary school. I love just for kids program

because the program helped me to understand other

kids much better and I am very positively, the

facilitator helps me to understand life to besuccessful. Thoko Nkabinde


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3.5 Arts & Culture

The Siyasizana Project focuses on the arts and culture and targets children and youth in the

community. "Siyasizana" is a Zulu word and it means we help each other". These young people

are at risk of getting involved in gangsterism and drug abuse, of getting in trouble with the law

and developing social problems at school. The project focuses on youth from the community that

would like to make a change in their life. The arts and culture program takes place everyThursday where the children learn how to write poetry, draw, dance and create crafts. Children

were taught how to write poems, do things with their hands and to dance. As most of the children

from the Township, they know how to dance and many times the children teach the teachers a

move or two. The children have started becoming more creative and writing their own poems.

The nature of the content of the poems includes families, flowers, love and about Conquest for

Life.

Above: Children displaying their talents

I dont want to miss Thursday lesson because I like drawing the most and painting

Reabetso Mokwa

I am 7 years old and in grade 2. I love Arts and culture because I love home language and I am proud to bea Zulu boy. I have tough other kids at after care how Amazulu do dance during the celebration at Natal. I

love to learn other people culture because it is important to speak all language and during the lesson we had

done few of other culture history. Brain Monane

Above: A artist in the making. Above: some of the things children are making.


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3.6 Computer Training Centre

Above: Participants in the program

The Computer training courses provides members of the community an opportunity develop their

computer literacy skills and to upgrade their skills. Despite our challenges with power failures,

non payment of fees and the biggest challenge, the ever changing computer hardware and

software. During the this most recent financial year we managed to train 252 students,19 of

whom are now working, 16 are still unemployed and 3 have decided to study further. 200 of

students were part of the After Care program who get trained every Wednesday in computers

My advanced computer training this far is okay. I learned about shortcut keys. New = control and N,

opens a new page. I also learned how to work on two documents at the same time using the window

function than clicking compare side by side. It saves time. I also learned how to draw up a register.

Shireen Fortune

Left: Participants hard at working

Warren wrote the following about the computer Course:The past three days has been up to standards, because our trainer john has thought me some crucial

information I wasnt aware about. The first day I came here I felt abet nervous, my expectations is to

understand what computer has to offer me, and to obtain my certificate during the duration. At the end of

each day I definitely obtained some valuable infofmation, because the trainer is very lenient.


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3.7 Reathusana Youth Child Justice Project

Reathusana is a Sotho word and it means helping each other. The project targets young

offenders awaiting trial under the age of 18 and aims at rehabilitating young people while

incarcerated. The project is designed to monitor and further develop young people's character and

change their mindsets through a variety of programmes, which are delivered by trained

enthusiastic young people from Conquest for life. Throughout the year, Conquest For Lifemanaged to work with 856 inmates from various prisons such as Leeu Kop in Fourways,

Johannesburg, Leeu Hof in Vereeninging and Johannesburg Correctional Services (Sun City) We

facilitated Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and accommodate for both females and males. As

part of our engagement with the affected youths, we delivered a total of 144 life skills session

with the inmates.

Above: One on one session

I am 20 years old. I have gain the knowledge in problem solving

and learned how to face my problem. I would apply the skills that

I have received from Conquest For Life as a key to my success.

Mphikeleli Mthembu

Below : Participants in the program

Being in prison is not a good thing but

when the ladies come to facilitate they give

me hope that I can still go out there and

make a difference in my own life as well as

others lives. Audrey Female Juvenile

The following e mail was received after one of the participants completed the program:Hey there Otteley hope u fyn,i finally got out of prison in October and Im currently at home in

Zimbabwe, if everything woks out fine, I will be leaving 4 Ireland sometimes in may. I got your address

from your website, just wanted to say thank you so much for the support you gave, I believe everything in

life happens 4 a reason, I did a lot of growing up during my incarceration, and I think I m a beta person

now send my love to Shantel and also Matumelo u guys were just great. A million thanx once again

Simo


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3.8 Victim Offender Conference

Victim Offender Conferencing involves mediation and is based on the Restorative Justice

Principles. We work with the courts, South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community in

combating crime, by accepting cases on referral for mediation. The main purpose of the VOC

project is to mediate between the offender and victimin order to break the cycle of offending or

abuse. This project has been a success especially in resolving disputes of warring gangs, family,friends and neighbours. A number of 71 cases were referred to the organisation of which 41 were

successfully mediated, 8of the cases were withdrawn by the victim, and 16 cases were referred

back to court because parties could not reach an agreement or they never followed the process of

mediation. .

Photos: Participants at one of the courts

We did not know what to do when we had marriage problems but when my wife took me to court

I heard about Conquest for life and I asked the social worker to give me a second chance to go to

Conquest for life where we managed to sort out our problems . Eunice and Robert Moshori

When I was refereed from court I had a

problem with abusing my wife but since Istarted to go for voc counselling I was able

to talk with my wife and now I understand

the pain I did cause for all those years. We

solved all that so now I am doing what I was

supposed to do all those years. This program

VOC helped me a lot with me to keep my

family together.

Gladys and Douglas Duma


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3.9 Young Mothers Project

Young Mothers Project brings young single mothers together into a safe environment where they

can share their experiences, problems and help each other to solve the problems facing them.

During the year we managed to run 134 weekly sessions, 2 camps and 3 workshops where we

covered topics on sisterhood, gender and development and goal setting. In addition, we facilitated

2 training sessions which covered leadership development and computer training.

I prefer to come at conquest for life and meet other

ladies that have the same problems as me the

program also empower us as ladies to become

something in life.

Takalani

Above: Participants at a training camp.

I started to attend the she project last year, and I was having problem with family but when I was with the

younger mothers I felt free and to build a relationship with them. I found a help from Lerato, Mpho, and

Matshidiso.

Happy Sebalane

I am 21 years old and coming to S.H.E program helped me a lot because I did not had right friend until I

meet the facilitators of S.H.E program I had to talk to them about me and the problem I have which is

Alcohol and they gave me advise on what to do and I took that. I did not go to school due to the illness I

had so now I am okay. The ladies helped me to find the job at I am working with the contracts we are

putting street in our community and I am travelling with the company I am working with because of the job

well done. Lindiwe Mabaso

Right: Young ladies in a training session


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3.10 Exchange Programme

This year, we had 14 youth workers from Northern Ireland, or as they like to pronounce it Norn

Iron, join Conquest for Life for 3 weeks as part of an exchange programme. Each one of them

had a different experience and engaged with various members of our team. The visiting exchange

candidates were given work placements at the Conquest for Life branches in Westbury, Soweto,

Orange Farm and Ennerdale. Feedback from the Irish volunteers indicated that they developed agreater awareness of how easy it is to take things for granted and how important it is for people in

South Africa to make the most of what they have. During their stay we visited Kruger Park, and

Gods window, which was beautiful, and a great time was had by all. It was a wonderful

experience having the Irish youth at our organisation and many of the staff are pleased to have

made new long term friends.

Exchanges with Conquest for Life are run with

youths in Northern Ireland and USA. Exchanges

between countries run on alternate years and we are

always looking for new opportunities, as the lessons

that can be applied to our communities and youth are

incredibly valuable.

Below: Young people at the Hector Petersom Memorial

Above: Visitors from Northern Ireland

Hello my name is Robert and I am one of 14 youth workers who

came over from Northern Ireland or as we like to pronounce it Norn Iron for 3 weeks as part of an

exchange programme, we have been here for two weeks now and its been great. We visited a few places

on our first week here e.g. Kruger Park the animals were amazing and if you like impala, I would

recommend going

because you will see a lot of them

Carlos from Veracruz Mexico said that Volunteer

opportunity in my life has just begun with CFL. I like to give

my time and knowledge to contribute in the process of making

others lifes better and at the same time end rich my life with

the understanding of new cultures, people and places.

Left: The real exchange South Africa and Northern Ireland


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4. Office and Staff

Conquest For Life have offices in various Townships within Johannesburg and servers over 30

communities which includes: Westbury, Newclare, Coronationville, Bosmont, Claremont,

Montclare, Newlands, Riverlea Ext 1 & 2, Noordgesig, MeadowlandsZone 3, 5,9 & 10, Orange

Farm, Finetown, Platfontein, Vlakfontein, Ennerdale, Lawlaey, Lenasia South, Grasmere, to

name but a few.Below: Soweto Office in Meadowlands

Above: Westbury Office and the Head Office

Below: Dreamlands Campsite, where dreams become a reality.

Above: Staff of Conquest For Life

Above: Ennerdale Office in Ennerdale Ext 9

Below: Orange Farm Office in Ext1 Below: Reigerpark office in Boksburg

4.


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5. Financial Report


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6. FundersSpecial Thanks to our Funders

AECI Limited Selwage

Australian Embassy Shireens Fast Food

Cadbury Schweppes SR AW Educational & Benefit Trust

CTP Ltd Suzette Gordon

Eric Samson Foundation Trident SA

Fairheads Trust Unitrans

Gauteng Provincial Government Social Development

Global Ministries/ Kerkinactie Wimpy Charitable Trust

Global Giving WK Kellogg Foundation

Glomail

Gold Circle

Hans Merensky Foundation

Hollard Insurance

Josephs Veggies

KPMG

Le Carbone SA

Lesley & Paul Millhouser

L.V and I. Middleton Charity Fund

National Lotteries Fund

Pioneer Foods

SA Employees Guild


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Head Office:

Conquest House

2nd Floor, 21 Price Street, Newclare 2093

P O Box 88378, Newclare 2112

Tel: + 27 (0) 11 473 1651

Fax: + 27 (0) 86 688 9303

E Mail: [email protected]

Web Site: www.conquest.org.za

Conquest for Life Annual Report 2007 - 8

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Transcript of Conquest for Life Annual Report 2007 - 8