Strong, empowered communities where all members care for each other live their purpose and know their identity. They are connected to heritage, nature and to their common humanity.
To guide youth into caring and responsible adulthood through mentoring, building skills and knowledge, creating strong family and community ties, and allowing the healing power of Wilderness to transform lives.
Education, Training & Entrepreneurship – Empowerment of Peri-Urban Communities
Areas working in: Greater Stellenbosch & surrounding farming areas of the Western Cape and Brandvlei, Northern Cape
For more information, visit www.usiko.org.za
Usiko’s goal is to guide at-risk youth into fulfilled adults who contribute positively to their families and communities and help build an equitable South Africa
Usiko is based in Jamestown, Stellenbosch, that uses a ‘rites of passage’ approach to provide elder guidance to at-risk young people who encounter psycho-social challenges emanating in their communities; some are on the brink of expulsion from school and others are indulging in risky behaviour. The core methods employed are Wilderness Therapy (camps and hikes in nature) education & skills development and mentoring by local volunteers. Young people are empowered to see the value of education and work towards a hopeful future. Usiko began operating in 2001 using interventions that build resilience, self-reliance, independence and self-esteem. Over the two decades of delivering its programmes approximately 80% of participants complete their matriculation (some are the first in their families to do so) enabling them to enter further education or stable employment.
Usiko’s work targets youth aged 12 to 19 who are children of impoverished farm workers and those living in townships and remote rural settlements and those in danger of getting drawn into crime. Usiko also support rural unemployed women wishing to access meaningful careers.
The Trust’s funding is used for the Rites of Passage: Schools-based prevention and Sustainable livelihoods programmes, these programmes aim to aid the transition into the working world through vocational skills, internships and help with accessing bursaries and further education, as well as providing opportunities to travel and experience wider-world opportunities. The Trust further supports Usiko’s Women Empowerment programme for unemployed/part-time employed women aged 22 – 60 years.
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