Programmes

Our objectives

• Empower young people to occupy significant roles in decision-making processes
• Ensure that young people are capable of making responsible sexual and reproductive health decisions
• Equip young people with livelihood opportunities for a productive and healthy adulthood

We operate from the Eastern Cape, one of the poorest provinces in South Africa. Our head office is in East London, and our programmes operate across 24 distinct communities in OR Tambo and Amatole districts.

Overview

The Youth Empowerment Programme mobilises and trains young people to engage youth to

• Decrease risk of HIV infection, and of other STIs
• Reduce teen pregnancy levels
• Improve livelihood opportunities.

Via Youth Development Centres, our volunteer peer educators target communities using:

• Up-to-date information on HIV and AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, gender and livelihoods
• Technical development approaches such as behaviour change communication theory
• Interactive teaching and community engagement strategies
• Development of skills such as CV-writing, and careers fairs

Our expertise also supports other youth organisations to develop core skills in youth development.  We have recently provided training in monitoring and evaluation, fundraising and partnerships, peer education, and strategic and project management.

How do we do this?

Youth Development Centres provide a focal point for communities, as well as opportunities for skills development and leadership opportunities. IT and video resources enable young people to access information about HIV, hold workshops and debates and undertake practical IT training.

We also provide activities around sexual and reproductive health, with a strong gender focus, including:

• Interactive lessons in schools, focusing on empowerment
• Community sports and youth club sessions, featuring local issues driving the HIV epidemic
• Community events featuring music, dance and community theatre to raise awareness of key issues affecting community development
• Celebrating events such as Women’s Day, Youth Day and World AIDS Day to promote a supportive environment for women and youth

Youth Action Groups (YAGs) further mobilise students and out-of-school youth to focus on their own personal development and that of their communities. Their involvement ensures our work becomes self-sustaining. 

“Working with [Restless Development] facilitators was a great inspiration and it changed me a lot. Working with young successful people is the most motivating part because today’s young people too often concentrate on doing bad things such as alcohol abuse and crime.”

Phathiwe Bonakele, volunteer peer educator from Gwaba

The big picture

Restless Development works with government, tertiary institutions, and other like-minded organizations - complementing their efforts and avoiding duplication of effort and resources.

We are indebted to the following funders whose support to date has enabled us to reach so many young people: the Australian Agency for International Development, dance4life, the Eastern Cape NGO Coalition (ECNGOC), the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), Tesco and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Restless Development’s work in South Africa contributes to Millennium Development Goals 1, 2, 5 and 6 through focusing on reducing HIV infections, enabling universal primary education and improved maternal health.

We also contribute to 4 of the 6 key priority areas of the government’s National Strategic Plan. These are prevention; treatment, care and support; impact mitigation; and the promotion of human and legal rights.