The URP initiated an Essay Writing Project for high schools in Khayelitsha aimed to:

• Market URP by involving youth at schools through research, knowledge, learning and sharing of information. The youth is targeted because they constitute approximately 60% of the total population of Khayelitsha and they are the future leaders of the area.
• Solicit new ideas and opinions regarding service delivery gaps and what still needs to be done by the URP in Khayelitsha.
• Encourage youth to contribute in the development of the area. 

The project was piloted at the following six schools in Khayelitsha:

• Matthew Goniwe High School at Site B
• Esangweni High School at Kuyasa
• Thembelihle High School at Town 2
• Intlanganiso High School at Site C
• Bulumko High School at Khayelitsha
• Harry Gwala High School at Makhaza (the school later withdrew from the competition)
  
  

The high schools that participated were selected on the basis of the geographic spread of the area of Khayelitsha. Five learners in Grade 10 and 11 were selected by their educators at the schools.

URP funded the project with an amount of R30 000. To leverage the URP budget and to magnify the project scope, a sponsorship was secured from Old Mutual and Capitec Bank. Old Mutual sponsored an amount of R60 000 for the event and prizes. Capitec Bank sponsored an amount of R22 000 for catering, gifts and vouchers for learners and educators.

An external examiner, Dr Gxekwa, was appointed from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, in the Department of Teaching and Learning Centre. She assessed and marked the essays written and submitted a report on what the Department of Teaching and Learning Centre had observed and established from the essays.

The Essay Writing Prize Giving Awards Event took place on 23 July 2009 at the Khayelitsha Multi-Purpose Community Centre (Thusong). The event was officiated over by the Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town: Alderman Dan Plato.

The inspirational speeches that were made at the event were motivational and centered on education and development of learners at schools. The speakers pledged their support for the URP initiative and some even committed to allocate their resources (financial and non-financial) when the project is implemented in future.

The Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town: Alderman Dan Plato gave learners words of encouragement and wisdom. The Executive Mayor told learners that the political history and the living conditions they live under should not stop them from becoming the best they can be. The Executive Mayor said “…Growing up in the ghetto should not be an excuse”.

The Deputy Director General of the Western Cape Department of Education, Dr Sindi Lingela, told learners that they should not be a demotion factor after they have matriculated. Dr Lingela said “….You must be involved in the community development and I pledge my support on behalf of the department that we will continue to support initiatives of this nature”.

Dr Lingela pleaded with the politicians not to politicize developmental programmes that are meant for the poor. Dr Lingela said “….When developmental programmes like URP Projects and Programmes are being undertaken; certain wards or communities must not be sidelined just because they are known to support a certain political party”.

The Branch Manager of Old Mutual Retail Mass Markets (RMM), Mr. Joe Ngogodo, said “…RMM decided to get involved with the Essay Writing Project for Khayelitsha Schools, because we support economic transformation in the Western Cape at all levels. We are committed to education and support local government initiatives targeting youth and we accordingly saw the partnership with URP as an appropriate vehicle to reach learners, youth and staff of the Western Cape schools.

” The Head of Channel Marketing from Capitec Bank, Mr. Sibusiso Khumalo, mentioned that Capitec Bank decided to sponsor the project for high school learners as it forms part of the bank’s focus on education. Mr. Khumalo said “….Our future lies in the education of youth, as they are the leaders of tomorrow. Capitec Bank places education, especially financial education, high on its corporate social investment agenda. We believe that such initiatives will enhance the ability of the participants to find suitable jobs and to create jobs by becoming entrepreneurs”.

Dr Gxekwa, who marked the essays described the University’s criteria for marking of the essays. “….I knew that the learners who wrote these essays are all Xhosa speaking and that they might struggle a bit with fully expressing themselves in English, so I only needed to see if they understand the theme of the essay (What is URP?, what it does for them in townships?), “…I also looked for the originality in learners because I could see that others were just ‘cut and paste’ from the existing text. Others were penalized because there was no voice of learners”.
Dr Gxekwa stated that she was impressed by the fact that essays had brought out the best in learners.

The Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town: Alderman Dan Plato, URP Director: Mr. Penxa and Old Mutual Branch Manager: Mr. Ngogodo awarded the prizes at the event. The following prizes were awarded:

• 1st prize - R7 000 for Matthew Goniwe High School
• 2nd prize - R5 000 for Esangweni High School
• 3rd prize - R3 000 for Thembelihle High School
• 4th prize (consolation) – R1 000 for Intlanganiso High School
• 5th prize(consolation) - R1 000 for Bulumko High School
  

The twenty five participated learners were acknowledged by each receiving a R100 voucher and a bag with goodies which included a T-shirt, key-holder and a water-bottle from Capitec Bank. Educators from the participated schools were also acknowledged by Capitec Bank. Each educator per school received a free bursary worth R1 000. The bursary is for a six months Financial Management Course which is offered by the University of South Africa (UNISA). The aim of the course is to advance the skills of the educators in financial management for the benefit of learners at schools.