November 2018
The worker committee of Morester Farm in Piketberg, Western Cape has always been aware of the potential that is un- or under-developed amongst their youth.
The role of the Foundation as social development partner and facilitator contributed to the committee’s decision to prioritise youth development programmes. The committee demonstrated the necessary sense of urgency and applied good development principles that included consultation with the intended beneficiaries and facilitating the buy-in from parents/guardians and farm management.
Initial outcomes of the committee’s direction with their projects were the design and implementation of a holiday programme for 25-28 young people who willingly participated in the programme during the September school holiday. The content of the programme was relevant, exciting and challenging while it enhanced life skills such as self-awareness, relationship building, goalsetting as well as leadership identification/development. The programme was presented by Charlton Swigelaar, a family- and social development facilitator, who has a longstanding relationship with the farm.
The youth decided to move away from traditional references such as being a Youth Club and rather adopted the name ‘Morester Dream Team’ – this preferred identity expresses the new vision of youth, who are now aiming towards achieving larger life goals.
