“You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you” – John Bunyan

“When a child loses a parent, it disrupts their foundation—their sense of security and safety, having secure attachments, having his/her parent provide everything that parents provide. That all gets blown to pieces when a child loses a parent.”

“Children who have experienced complex trauma often have difficulty identifying, expressing, and managing emotions, they often internalize and/or externalize stress reactions and as a result may experience significant depression, anxiety, or anger, carrying into adulthood.” (Developmentalscience.com)

The learners attending the Learn to Live School of Skills at the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, are between the ages of 14 and 18 and come from impoverished communities in Cape Town where abandonment and violence is a daily way of life. Single-parent households are more than often than not the norm. These youth are no longer accommodated in mainstream educational facilities and do not have the resources to better their lives.

The Salesian Institute Youth Projects takes these youth in, providing a safe, stable environment for learning. Vocational skills training forms part of the 4-year programme which included Life Skills & mentorship. Daily meals and transport assistance are provided, with a clear goal: to facilitate learning and employment opportunities. To offer an alternative to living in fear and a continued sense of loss and hopelessness. To facilitate sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.

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