Ubuntu4All keeps kids in school and out of trouble

Hout Bay's Ubuntu4All, a non-profit organisation, helps children who struggle with numeracy and literacy, but it is also tackling drug abuse, teen pregnancies, gangsterism and other social ills.

The organisation, which was started in 2014, initially focused its efforts on Imizamo Yethu, where it is based, and Hangberg, but now it seeks to spread its reach to other communities, according to its managing director, Pastor Burt Elliot.

“I think Ubuntu4All is very important to the community. It was expanded to reach to the point that we have various programmes available to the children, youth and families in the community.”

Over the past decade, he said, the organisation had run programmes to keep children in school and out of gangs, teach entrepreneurship and offer homework support, among other things.

Pastor Burt said 60% of those who had passed through their programmes were employed in retail.

“One young man came out of the gangs and is now a qualified teacher at one of the local schools,” he said.

The organisation had also helped to register children in school in cases where supporting documents had been lost.

Imizamo Yethu community leader Kenny Tokwe was an important resource for the youth in a community plagued by high unemployment and a lack of skills.

“Ubuntu4All is an organisation that I really adore for IY and Hout Bay at large. They have offered helping hands everywhere and our youth have become very dependent on them,” he said.

Email info@ubuntu4all, visit www.ubuntu4all.org or call 082 529 9931 for more information about the organisation.