Crime prevention programme offer Cape flats children fun in Strandfontein

An event hosted at the Cape Flats YMCA in Strandfontein, aimed at crime prevention and diversion intervention, saw 100 youths from all over the Cape Flats participate on Wednesday 4 October.

Amelia Pedro, programme facilitator, says schools on the Cape Flats face daily struggles with misconduct of learners, with teachers unable to complete their lessons without disruption.

“(With this in mind), before the school suspends the learner we pull them into our crime prevention and diversion programme,” she says.

“They have to attend every session offered and the learner’s name comes recommended by the school.”

The Ywise-up team, Lindy Walker, Amelia Pedro, Bradwin Daniels and Bradley Williams.

The event was held at the Cape Flats YMCA in Strandfontein. Children were taught about crime prevention and were treated to a day of fun.

A group of 100 at-risk youth were taught self-defense as part of the intervention programme and fun day.

With their Ywise-up programme, they reach 100 learners per term. This is done in partnership with the schools and provincial Social Development department.

“We end the term with a fun day at our campsite in Strandfontein where they are taught self defense by our very own Sensei and then police come in and give them a talk on what the consequences of youth crime is,” says Pedro.

“We take them into our Ywise-up cultural centre and there they learn about the systems of apartheid, prison system and justice system through stories of people who overcame a life of crime or imprisonment.”

Learners were from areas including the broader Mitchell’s Plain and Strandfontein, Retreat and Hanover Park.