Poverty is in the mind. It is the mindset. There is no such thing like 'I am poor', 'I am bored', 'I have nothing to do', 'I am waiting for the opportunities'. Youthzones champions are solutions driven, innovative and creative irrespective of their surrounding challenges. In the middle of tough conditions, they make things happen. One of the best…

No one should be ruled out in life. No matter how the journey could be rough or be in a dark side of life or how many times one falls. Ayanda from Drissik in Orange Farm is now full rehabilitated and active member of the community…

"True friendship reveals itself when things are not going well" Nomfundo Madlala, Umlazi V Section Netball Captain and police official.

How everyone looks at you means nothing. How you look at yourself means everything. 

Hammanskraal ladies instead of burning shredded Bidvest Protea Coin uniform, they instead use the shreds and make cushions and pillows and sell to cooperates. Well done Mas B, Ellen and Patience. They just made 50 cushions for Ellis Park game between All Blacks vs Springbok. …

For most of us we didn’t know to be professional and be successful, we will be shocked if we meet the legends like Andre Arendse, Sthembiso Ncobo, Pule, Liam, Ntshangase, Stigar, Kwakman ... They are extremely down to earth and always respectful and wants to learn. They are not big stars in their heads. Their recent visit to Tarlton informal settlement…

James, recruitment specialist visited the youth in Tarlton and Brandvlei. The best gift in life one can give to the poor is attention and friendship and James did so. The youth were trained on how to do CV , interview tips, how to catch someone's attention, importance of Google, how the hairstyle can affect not to get a job, social media can damage one 's image. He also…

There is no such thing as no luck, no jobs, no way out. These boys through our work are now flying out to Namibia to work as business consultants for big project. They all don't have degrees but through their dedication, caring and hardwork in their respective impoverished communities, they proved to be competent to be joining one of the big…

The Bidvest Wits FC IT competition was won by youth from Sakubva in Zimbabwe who created 100 emails for their peers. These youth only have electricity from 5pm until 10am the next day and they have bad internet. But they managed to create 100 emails for their peers. Batakwethu, masilala sizosala. Unfortunately they won’t manage to attend the game tomorrow however we will…

You and your soccer or netball team can win 14 Telkom Knockout Quarter Finals tickets for your team if you can create 100 emails for your peers and join the website. Compeition close tomorrow night. Walala Wasala. 

While doing shopping and preparing for UNISA research in Helderberg, I just heard someone shouting “Doc”. It was Thami from Upington who got a job woolworths in Somerset Mall. He left his his work and assisted…

The youth from privileged suburbs in Pretoria visited their friends in the disadvantaged Tubatse village in Steelpoort. The kids interacted and shared contact and they were just like brothers and sisters.

Youth in Botshabelo and Pieter Swart are just amazing in terms of their attitude which is important in life. They do things together, respectful and very hospitable. The youthzone team and UNISA staff was first time visit to this new site and we even held research workshop with our new friends.With their kind of attitude, I am very optimistic about their…

Embalenhle in Secunda and Kwazamokuhle in Hendrina are the new sites situated in Mpumalanga Province. The YZ team visited the area for first time this weekend and check it out. We trained with the Silver Stars Fc In Embelenhle informal settlement and after training what was fascinating was that the kids didn’t have senior leader and they were appreciating. At the end of the…

Just giving  your time from one 's busy schedule, share skills, play sports and respecting the poor and encouraging them is all one needs to have dignity and sense of worth. The standard bank staff yesterday eating together with youth, hanging out in the homes of the youth is all the youth needed to have pride, valued and hopeful. They were remarkable…

We need more caring guys like Thulani in SA. Together with his girlfriend picked up this child whom the mother wanted to kill him by leaving him in the bushes since he is disabled. They took the child and made him their own. Thulani is the coach of Arsenal Ladies team and one of the Umlazi Youthzones…

Irrespective of all the success of the Xstrata league and exclusion of political interferences, the youths in Ikemeleng, both male & females decided to have their own sports awards with pride. They are doing all this as their own initiative and moral boosting move to show that life can be transformed through sport, life skills, IT and Enterprise…

Is always humbling to see people from top positions in SA government visit the impoverished areas in our country. After Yz team had a meeting with Correctional Services Deputy Commissioner Pumla Mathibela in Jozi Centre, the delegate left for Kameeldrift to do site visit. One thing which stayed in my head is when she said 'Doc, you know we are around the corner but we don't know about this impoverished squatter camp, our eyes are so closed and we are definitely focusing on…

This life skills competition (for all TSB sponsored sites) will be running from the 1st of August 2014 until the 8th of August and the winner will win R5 000. This competition can only be entered by teams from Naas, Driekoppies, Mbuzini and Tonga.  For more information please email me at doc@youthzones.co.za. 

LifeSkills_2014_TSB.pdf…