Deprived Youth service: Collaborative youth-led empowerment for resilience and safety: – Resources
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Description
Deprived Youth Service (DYS) is a youth-led community-based organisation supporting the empowerment of young people to build resilience and live their best lives in the challenging environment of Lamontville township, eThekwini.
In 2007 Nhlanhla Sgaqa Chiliza and Khethukuthula Maphumolo (Ketha) saw the rates of school dropout, HIV-AIDS infection, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment and crime and violence in their community and felt compelled to take action to be a part of changing the local landscape. These young men, 19 and 20 years old at the time, saw the need for skills and support for young people, and decided to take steps to respond to this need. They have confronted the complexity of the challenges experienced by their peers and built their organisation to be proactive and agile and to respond to the multiple challenges and opportunities for young people in Lamontville.