After spending two months in the UK sourcing partnerships and fund raising it is really good to be back in Cape Town. Our first year has been spent researching and developing our programme and now that it has come to an end we have started to work with five youth who are preparing to live independently and who currently live in a home called Beth Uriel. These five young men have diverse needs and are all very willing to assist with our pilot. They understand that we are doing this for the first time and are keen to help us develop a programme that will help others in the same situation as them. Although the pilot is due to start officially in January, we decided to start early with this group so that by January we will have a much clearer plan in place.

Our programme is focusing on one to one mentoring. I meet with each one weekly where we discuss their hopes and their concerns about independent living and together we set targets for the future. We have developed a pack that we are working with to take them through the practical steps needed when preparing to leave home and the support will continue once they have left. Loneliness and isolation are two big problems for these young people so we need to help them keep themselves occupied in addition to finding a job and somewhere to live.

To complete the team a number of local volunteers have joined us. They bring invaluable knowledge and experience of Cape Town and its diverse cultures and languages (there are eleven official languages spoken in South Africa!). The volunteers are sourcing important contacts and helping us shape the programme further. I have also asked them if they would like to write blog entries as I think it would be interesting for you to hear from them their experience of OTSK.

Thank you for your support and interest in our work. For further information please email us at: info@sa-yes.com.

Best wishes,

Michelle Potter

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