UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Major Groups

Submitting organization:

Affiliation:	- Children and youth - Non-governmental organization

Name of Focal Point:	Sofia Widforss

Initiative Title:	Reach Out Inner City Project

Internet links:	http://www.jep.org.za/about.htm http://www.unhabitat.org/downloads/docs/268-South_Africa_Addressing_Youth_Unemployment_%E2%80%93_the_Most_Pressing_Post-Apartheid_Development_Challenge_for_Youth-YDNPaperforEGM.pdf

Scope:	National: - South Africa

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: Pre 1997 End:

Lead Institution:	Joint Enrichment Project (JEP)

Stakeholders/Partners:	Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA)

Relevent issues:	- Strategies for effective resource management - Poverty eradication - Sustainable development for Africa - Education - Africa - Others - Engaging young people in sustainability issues within their local community

Objectives/Challenges:

To harness the energy and leadership potential of young people so that they may become advocates of change within their own communities. JEP believes that change will benefit the community and ensure that opportunities are created that meet the needs of young people and maximizes their talents. Through youth service programmes assist young people to be involved in the reconstruction and development of their own communities and in doing so, change their own lives. Another aim is to assist young people to access and create viable opportunities for themselves and to mobilize communities to provide a caring, nurturing environment for young people.
As an example, a particular partnership with the local municipality, through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), resulted in jobs for some of the young people in the project. Several of the young people, who had been trained in tourism and hospitality, were recruited by the JDA to work as tour guides on Constitution Hill (the historic prison that has been renovated and reopened as the
Constitutional Court and a museum).

Lessons Learned:

Partnership with the local municipality, through the Johannesburg Development Agency, resulted in jobs for some of the young people in the project. Several of the young people, who had been trained in tourism and hospitality, were recruited by the JDA to work as tour guides on Constitution
Hill (the historic prison that has been renovated and reopened as the Constitutional Court and a museum).

Summary:

The Joint Enrichment Project was established in 1986.
JEP engages young people from the inner city of Johannesburg in life skills and technical skills training and community service. Many of the young people in the project have been homeless and/or in conflict with the law.