Light Providers
Light Providers is a registered non profit organisation founded in 2005 by Vusi Kweyama, working primarily with young people in the region of KwaNyuswa.
Vision of Light Providers
Our vision is to expose young people to their inherent potential.
Mission
To shape and nurture the leaders of tomorrow.
The situation in the region of KwaNyuswa is characterised by serious social conditions. These conditions include large levels of crime, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, rape, women and child abuse HIV/AIDS and unemployment. Many of thedr issues are interrelated and have an impact on the high occurrence of crime, teen pregnancies (9.4% of pregnancies are to teenagers); drug abuse; women and child abuse (occurs amongst 13.2% of the population); together with the high incidence of HIV/AIDs.
According to a Valley Trust survey (14 December 2001), the main causes of crime in this area are unemployment, hunger, drugs, lack of unity in the community, boredom and the lack of safe activities to occupy young people.
HIV/AIDS is also a particularly serious problem. In KwaNyuswa, the problem is largely caused by poverty, sexual abuse of women, unprotected sex, promiscuity, peer pressure for sex, and lack of parental discipline.
This context is relevant to the personal story of Vusi Kweyama, the founder of Light Providers. “Through personal experience growing up in this area, I have first hand experience of people’s needs and issues. When I was young, I kept myself occupied through being deeply involved in crime, drug abuse and immorality. The driving forces behind these issues were the lack of guidance, peer pressure, unavailability of safe recreational activities for the youth, stress, lack of a father and mother figure alongside an ignorance of my potential and purpose for existence. I was only one amongst many young people whose lives were built around this behavior - there are many others.”
Vusi Kweyama was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend a life skills and leadership course at World Changers Academy in 2002 which assisted him in gaining insight into his unique potential.
Following completing this course, Vusi committed to working with his community through coordinating and teaching life skills courses in partnership with World Changers Academy. Approximately 500 people have been through courses at which Vusi has played a key role.
Vusi has also developed important skills essential as a leader. These skills include coordination, public speaking, interpersonal skills and responding to the needs of others.
Another key group of youth Vusi has worked with are offenders who have been referred to his courses by the Pinetown Court. Recently, Vusi has also worked to establish a life skills program with an organisation, Tholulwazi Uzivikele, based in Kosi Bay.
Light Providers is the vehicle through which Vusi and a committed group of young people are striving to uplift the youth of KwaNyuswa.
Strategies to achieve vision and mission
Light Providers has different spheres which work together to shape the lives and behaviour of young people (see diagram at end of business plan).
Training and Personal Development
Life Skills training for unemployed out of school youth and high school students;
Basic Computer Training;
Entrepreneurship and business skills workshops;
Development of a free library.
Recreation
The Centre is a recreational hub including activities and groups in the following areas:
· Dancing;
· Soccer team;
· Music (kwaito/hip hop);
· Choir (new initiative in 2008);
· Basketball team (new initiative in 2008).
Soccer Team
Health
· Counselling;
· HIV/AIDs awareness;
· Home based care workshops;
· Development of a gym and workshops covering topics such as healthy eating and exercise (new initiative in 2008).
Rehabilitation
· Working with youth involved with crime and/or drugs.
· Life skills training;
· Community service;
· Business start-up training and mentoring.
2008 OBJECTIVES FOR LIGHT PROVIDERS
1. Regular recreation events and activities including Youth Day Celebration; Fun Run, Youth Camps.
2. Establishing a gym and workshops focusing on personal health and fitness including nutrition and exercise.
3. Establishing a basketball team which trains weekly at the centre.
4. Developing the existing soccer team to train regularly and participate in local competitions.
5. Developing the existing dancing group through regular rehearsals and performances.
6. Establishing a choir and a kwaito/hip hop group which rehearses twice a week at the centre and also performs for tourists and community events.
7. Expanding the life skills training to 3 month courses.
8. Conducting life skills training for high school students at the centre (during school holidays).
9. Developing the library.
10. Income generation for sustainability of Light Providers through:
a. Administration work for the community (such as cv writing and faxes);
b. Fundraising events inviting current networks such as schools, businesses and churches;
c. Internet café;
d. Community tourism in partnership with Vuk Africa Tours which will involve recreation groups such as the choir and dance groups.
Personnel involved in the project
Vusi Kweyama, Director
Strategic oversight, marketing and public relations, training.
Siyanda Chonco, Training Coordinator
Oversight of the training sphere; day-to-day coordination of life skills courses.
Bongani Chamane, Sports Coordinator
Oversight of the recreation sphere; computer training.
Nosipho Ntuli, Administration Officer
Overall administration of the organisation; book-keeper.
Msizi Phewa, Assistant Training Coordinator
Assisting in the coordination and marketing of life skills courses.
Mlungisi Chamane, Media Coordinator
Marketing and promoting Light Providers in various media sources; IT.
Gugu Mfuma, Recreation Coordinator
Developing the recreation sphere; training the dancing group and other entertainment activities.
Sabelo Ngcobo, Funding
Proposal writing, and fundraising event coordination.
BUDGET
The direct beneficiaries for the projects of Light Providers are youth, including high school students, who reside, study and work in KwaNyuswa.
Activity/Item Amount
Community library at the centre (already have 1000 books donated)
Book shelves - R6 000
Computer for catalogue (library) - R5 000
Subtotal - R11 000
Life skills Courses/ Computer Training Courses/ Business Incubation & Start Ups
Exercise books (500) - R700
White board/Flip Chart stand x2 - R900
Inkjet Printer x2 - R5 000
Photocopier - R2 500
Fax Machine - R2 000
Printer cartridges - R5 000
Stationary (pens, photocopy paper, white board markers act) - R1 500
DVD player & Television - R2 000
Overhead projector - R2 000
Tables/Desks - R6 000
Filing Cabinet - R5 000
Name Tags holders X50 - R1 500
Flip Chart paper X50 - R1 500
Fifteen Computers (for training and office) [R500 incl. Software] - R100 000
Student workbooks X500 [R10ea] - R5 000
Certificate Board X500 - R500
Roof (ceiling board) - R12 000
Vehicle - R75 000
Subtotal - R228 100
Recreational Activities
Soccer, netball & Basket balls [have a court on site, and soccer field nearby] - R1 000
Upgrading Basketball court - R4 000
Soccer uniforms [for male and female teams] - R20 000
Sound equipment for cultural groups & other youth for rehearsals and functions - R15 000
Uniform cultural group [contemporary Zulu dance group and choir] - R5 000
Gym equipments - R60 000
Subtotal - R105 000
*Amounts are estimates
ONGOING MONTHLY OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR TRAINING CENTRE
Item - Amount
General maintenance and repairs [incl. cleaning products, mops, broom, hardware items act] - R2 000
Electricity - R2 000
Telephone and Internet usage - R2 000
Water - R600
Stationary - R700
Transport - R2 000
Unexpected cost - R3 000
TOTAL - R 12 300
BANK DETAILS:
Acc. : Light Providers Youth Club
Bank : First National Bank
Branch : Pine Crest 251-505
Account No. : 62115131683
LIGHT PROVIDERS YOUTH CLUB REG.NO.050-029 NPO
P.O. BOX 14040, BOTHAS HILL 3660
PHONE: 031 7779671, MOBILE: 072 7371 184
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN: V.W. KWEYAMA,
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: S.S. CHONCO, SECRETARY: G.P. MFUMA,
DEPUTY SECRETARY: S.W. NGCOBO, TREASURER: X.E. KUBHEKA,
MENTOR: C.P. DENT FORMER CEO OF ENGEN REFINERY
