Tholulwazi Uzivikele
Kwa-Ngwanase, South Africa
Loosely translated, “Tholulwazi Uzivikele” means “Empower yourself with knowledge”. Its mission is to support people affected by HIV and AIDS, poverty and a lack of opportunity, in the Kwa-Ngwanase area.
Tholulwazi Uzivikele already runs a Young Adult Care Programme, using drama to encourage children and young adults in schools to discuss issues such as HIV and AIDS, rape and gender equality. It also provides opportunities for voluntary counselling and testing.
With funding from iThemba, it has now started a Life Skills Programme to complement the other work. World Changers Academy (WCA), an organisation with significant experience of life-skills and leadership training, is assisting Tholulwazi Uzivikele with this programme, which offers a series of classes to high school students and unemployed young adults. Subjects covered include personal goal setting, relationships, volunteerism, job-seeking, HIV and AIDS and overall self-improvement. Based on Christian principles, this Life Skills Programme is not overtly evangelistic, but follow-on Bible studies and links to local churches give students the opportunity to investigate the Christian faith.
World Changers Academy has been involved in life-skills and leadership training in the Durban area since 2002, targeting the unemployed, out-of-school youth and high-school youth. In the last six years, it has trained nearly 10,000 people. Working specifically with Tholulwazi Uzivikele over the last year, it has now trained 85 students in Manguzi. All are now back in Manguzi, implementing the Life Skills Programme in local schools and working with local churches.
Tholulwazi Uzivikele is a community-based organisation that enjoys significant community support from the local Tribal authority, hospital and churches. It has also been nominated by the Department of Social Development as a “Community Builder of the Year”.
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