Youth camp continues to change lives
28 January 2020
The City of Cape Town’s Metro Police Department held another successful youth camp this past weekend with 26 learners from the Modderdam High School in Bonteheuwel. The youth camp is one of the department’s most established social crime prevention initiatives and is aimed at changing the lives of high school learners and give them a step up into becoming cadets.
Metro Police officers attached to the Social Crime Prevention Unit hosted a leadership camp over the weekend at the Princess Vlei Eco Centre with 26 learners from the Modderdam High School in Bonteheuwel. The children who attend the camp are identified by the Western Cape Education Department.
'The youth camps are aimed at empowering young people with skills and knowledge to encourage leadership and promote crime prevention, as many of them come from very challenging situations. The camps challenge them to look to the future and think differently about their relationships and interactions with law enforcement.
‘For some, the camp has been life-changing as they walked in as troubled individuals and left with positive attitudes while others have become leaders in our youth cadet programme,’ said the City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The youth camp programme was first introduced in 2013 as part of the department’s social crime prevention interventions. The department develops and funds the programme, and the Western Cape Education Department identifies schools to participate.
The camps are also a recruitment tool for the department’s youth cadets. Learners who showed the most improvement in behaviour and discipline after attending the camps are selected to register as youth cadets.
Other activities at the weekend camp included a team challenge where team spirit and teamwork were encouraged, personal development presentation and a session to help participants become better leaders.
‘The different sessions and presentations are tailored to empower the learners with skills to help them change certain behaviours, attitudes, and be inspired to reach for their dreams. It’s not easy to see outside of your situation, but with the right motivation and support the sky is the limit for these young leaders of tomorrow,’ said Alderman Smith.
The learners were given a platform to conduct dialogues on topical issues that affect them and their communities, with a view of identifying root causes and developing strategic solutions to address them.
They participated in physical training sessions, including kayaking on the vlei and were given the opportunity to stage their teamwork abilities and provide feedback on the experience.
'Our aim with the camp is to develop young people to become active and caring citizens who are ambassadors for the city and future leaders in our society. What we teach them now, will equip them to deal with challenges as adults', said Alderman Smith.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
