This past weekend in Cosmo City something special happened. Teams from Mabopane, Katlehong and Soweto arrived in full rigour at Sgodiphola Secondary School (Blue Roof) to represent their Youthzones and acclaim bragging rights of being the champions. The day started off well with youth teams namely under 13 and 15 teams from Cosmo City warming the atmosphere before the intense dual would start.

Once the curtain was raised, no bars were held and friends became opponents for the duration…

Leaders do cry too right? or do they? is it right? is it acceptable? who says? does it show weakness?

 #scratching my head#

My name is Marcel and I am veeeerrry new here (youthzone site). In fact, this is the first blog that I have ever posted. I have met Schalk during June and he told me about the exciting things and projects that you guys are busy with. I again met with Schalk this afternoon before he left for the soccer tournament and braai some you guys are engaged in - he was super excited about the event and looking forward to the braai afterwards.

I would really like to meet up at some stage and…

I must say I have many academic, social and sporting certificates or medals from high school and tertiary  and it never changed my life or feel good about myself. Before I will try to display them on my room wall to feel good and be motivated every time I see them, I must say it was just external and past achievement as time goes on. I never felt any motivation to do better or be inspired.  Today, the 2nd of August 2012, I was invited for lunch by our leader Roelf Meyer and to my surprise…

Surely, it is as if I am dreaming!!! This is a dream come true. I want to thank the Lord for giving me a lifetime opportunity. Honestly, I never stopped believing but I was slowly beginning to lose hope. Considering my age and where I come from, just being called to the national team really means a lot. It is true that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE in life. I want to thank my parents for the guidance and love. Furthermore, I would like to sincerely thank Youthzones for the important life lessons and…

Results will always be there for everyone to see the effectiveness and impact of Youthzones here in Mutare. A couple of months ago, it was Tichaona Mabvura who made a major breakthrough and made the grade at the biggest and successful team in Zim, Dynamos. He is making rave waves as we speak and is now a household name at the team. Today, I am proud to notify everyone that Mutare Youthzones member, Prosper Matizanadzo, has been called to the Zimbabwe National Soccer team, the Warriors!!!! He…

HI GUY AYANDA MBATHA HERE

I JUST NEED TO UPDATE ALL OUR FANS ABOUT WHAT WE DID DIS WEEKEND I CAME FROM DURBAN SATURDAY MORNING MY TRIPE WAS 08H30 I REACH JOHANNESBURG @ 16H30  DOCTOR N LUSANDA PICT ME UP N WE WENT TO SCHALKS HOUSE JUST TO SAY HI HE WELCOMED ME VERY WELL N ME N DOC N LUSANDA WE WENT TO YOUTHZONES CENTER TO MEET AYANDA N SIMON THEY WERE WITH 45 YOUTHZONES MEMBERS THEY ALSO WELCOMED ME VERY WITH RESPECT N THEY QUICKLY GET ME A NICK NAME THEY CALLED ME( BLACK COFFEE) NOW…

This as Youthzones tries by all means to intall good ethics to our youth by means of life skills programs, im glad that our parents still do remind us that we are people because of other people.

This past weekend Youthzones hosted Nebo Youth from jane Furse, Limpopo. The boys and girls had great fun as it was their first time in Jozi for some of them. What made me write this is this e-mail:-

" Hi Doctor

Thanks for helping us. Your…

What a weekend we are coming from (from the 27th-29th of July) whereby we saw 45 youth from N'waritsi village/Rietfontein Village, Jane Furse site, visiting Johannesburg and Ayanda Mbatha from Umlazi visiting Jozi centre, Katlehong and Evaton North site. The Jane Furse youth consisted of ladies team (nebo stars FC), Boys U/17 and U/15. They played Swallows ladies team on Saturday and Wits ladies team and boys U/17 accompanying by Kadiela and Whizzi Booi. On saturday it was time to hang out…

Personally the last three weeks, after reflecting more and more about leadership, mentorship and self image,  I have been reflecting back and forth concerning the issue of comparison. I am here daily trying to learn from others and share but at the end of the day I simply see many of us being victims of set ups of comparing ourselves to the others and fill good about it and think we have reached our goals or we are better or more clever or trying to make someone feel low or stupid etc.…

From when we collected the girls with their bags, you could see the excitement in their eyes, even though the Umlazi girls had a bit of a problem with their bus, never the less, they arrived safely and were well welcomed by the other girls. 

There was a welcoming done by me, Masi and Ayanda, were Ayanda rendered one of his poems. That's were the excitement blew up and everyone was free to communicate and share experiences and Youthzones was introduced. we showed the mass how to create…

I guess this is what I enjoy doing, organizing activities that get the young people in my community active an involved. Seeing the youth becoming part of something good is always exciting for me, for every event I manage, seeing the smiles and pride on the work everyone has devoted to the success of any event is what inspires me to do another one.

This past Wednesday, it was no different, as the country took it upon them selves to selflessly devote 67 minutes of their time to…

Growing up I was influenced subliminally to look upto Soccer Stars, Media Icons, Tycoons, Head Honcho's and basically all those living the good life with money that grows on trees. Not so much so, anymore! Now Im inspired by a different class of people. Those of a class that believe in a cause bigger then themselves, that do it with passion for the love of it.

To abo gogo that pray endlessly for the progress of Africa and Africans. Ama teacher that wake up to guide youth in…

Our friends in Convergence Partners bought two sets of kit for Maganagobuswa Young Killers FC and Libangeni Montana FC. The two teams are good friends with Convergence Partners staff and they communicate and visit each other. And this is just a good example of individuals who came out from their shells and become friends. Convergence Partners is in Sandton and Maganagobuswa and Libangeni is in a impoverished rural site in Siyabuswa. Thank you to sesi Portia, Idan and the crew. …

From the 1st of July until the 4th of July 2012, Laureus Yes (run by incredible Mthokozisi Madonda) invited Schalk and I to hold or rather share on leadership and mentoring and IT training. There were eleven incredible young leaders from different part of SA. And this event was held in Shongweni Game Reserve. I must say instead of us sharing with these young champs, we were taught by them and not vice versa. Their attitude, their drive, insight, coaching skills.... is just beyond major. We…

The bus will be leaving in less than an hour and all is set for Doc and Simon to leave Mutare for Joburg. After a very hectic but successful program, we urgently have to be at the internet cafe for a few updates, oh, a bit of cash is needed for the journey as well!!!

A little knock is heard outside the gate, young Tanyaradzwa is waiting there clad in her brown school uniform. She entered the house and was surprised to see unfamiliar faces. She greets everyone with a little smile on…

In South Africa we sometimes call a present a prezi, and now the real Prezi became a present!

Youthzones members can be delighted with the fantastic news that we will receive 33 Prezi licenses for free from Prezi themselves! The licenses are worth R 36 729 per annum, which makes a fantastic resource available to ordinary citizens. "This type of collaboration is…