MISSION

To contribute to youth development by developing social consciousness, values and attitudes, in young people, enabling them to achieve personal growth by providing them, through training, with knowledge and skills to gain economic, moral and spiritual empowerment.

INTRODUCTION

The Chrysalis training concept is a five-year programme broken into 3 distinct phases aimed at empowering unemployed youth, both physically and mentally, for the challenges of life. Participation in all phases is voluntary and training is conducted at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai, Cape Town, South Africa. It is FREE to residents of the Western Cape.

Students are largely, but not exclusively, from previously disadvantaged communities. Courses mirror the demographic profile of the Western Cape communities as the project is funded by the Western Cape government.

Originally designed as a social crime prevention project aimed solely at young men between the ages of 16 and 22 selected from the Western Cape, the programme has evolved into a much more inclusive and expansive being. Young women have been taken onto the programme for the first time. Young offenders and those with limited educational standards are also accommodated after evaluation. The curriculum also continues to expand.

Phase One is the initial 12-week residential training conducted at the Academy and which every Chrysalis graduate has to complete. Students are accepted onto the programme after submitting an application form and undergoing an assessment process.

Phase Two training is aimed at annually re-establishing contact with graduates. Evaluation, exchanging information, maintaining standards, community assistance and counseling make up the training. This phase is about a week long and will ideally take place as a residential module nearer the graduates' home environment.

The novice programme also falls under this phase. Novices stay at the Academy after graduation and undergo further training and on-the-job learning. Typically this will last three months and novices get a stipend. Areas for which novices are, or will be, engaged include: Security, catering, landscaping, clothing manufacture, canteen management, sports co-ordination, adventure training and interior decorating.

Phase Three training was implemented in April 2002 for the first time.

This phase is aimed at transferring the Chrysalis ethos directly into the communities via graduates.

Where 12 or more graduates come from an area, the Academy will assist them in forming a cohesive and functional youth club by providing information and support. Once established, these clubs will function as an extension of the Academy, which in turn will continue to provide guidance, training and opportunities. In return, the youth club must maintain minimum standards and values, be productive and be active change agents in their communities through volunteerism and role modeling.

KEY CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION

Applicants must:

· currently be unemployed
· be between the ages of 17 - 25 years old
· have a minimum academic qualification of Grade 9 (Standard 7)
· not have a criminal record
· be residents of the Western Cape

Students from other provinces or countries will be accepted on the course. Fees will be applicable by arrangement.

STRUCTURE OF CURRICULUM

The Orientation phase lays the foundation and establishes a disciplined daily routine where neatness and personal hygiene are emphasised. This is coupled with goal setting, motivation, problem solving and communication. The students also cover basic health and nutrition, level one first aid, fire fighting and environmental awareness.

In the Outdoor phase students head to the great outdoors where they develop teamwork skills, their personal limits are tested and individual awareness is encouraged, while learning to abseil, kayak, rock climb and hike, amongst a host of other activities. After this phase, students are allowed visitors for the first time since the start of the course. By this time all are supremely fit, highly motivated and their self confidence is obvious.

The Skills phase introduces the students to basic skills accredited according to specific unit standards. A wide range of subjects chosen according to the needs in the job market are offered and may vary from course to course depending on demand. Car maintenance, welding, brick laying, metal and woodwork as well as electrical circuitry amongst others, are covered in hands-on classes. Otherwise they may choose agriculture, basic business administration, catering, basic computer skills, leatherwork, tour guiding or tailoring. Sports coaching is also introduced during this phase.

The final Community phase is the preparation for life in the real world and focuses on business survival and life orientation skills and career guidance. A wide variety of socially acceptable activities are also engaged in such as arts and crafts, singing, chess, and leisure reading. Throughout the programme the students are required to do community work and volunteerism is actively promoted. Affiliation with a community organisation is encouraged while much emphasis is placed on positive community work like school sports coaching, neighbourhood watch patrolling and improving their quality of life at home through greening projects and other clean-up activities. The Graduate Affairs department monitors the progress of graduates for five years after the course and ensures that information regarding any volunteer or work opportunities are communicated as an ongoing service to both graduates and stakeholders. Where 12 or more graduates exist in a particular area, community clubs are established to assist and support them. Graduates are in great demand with 70% employed by over 70 businesses throughout the Western Cape. Unemployed graduates are absorbed into projects such as Swimsafe and Bambanani and many others run by various Government departments and other organisations.

CONCLUSION

All over the world, young people with their unique problems are a source of grave concern for most communities. During the course of its existence, the Chrysalis Academy has proven that it has a formula that works, and that everyone has a role to play in building a future for our young people.

This is an enormous task - a project not for the faint-hearted, but for those with vision and a positive expectation for the future of South Africa.

In the words of Graca Machel (wife of Nelson Mandela):

'The task that we face, is indeed a challenging one. But the cost of failure - for this generations children, and the next, - is simply too high to bear.'