Molosongololo Protecting the rights of children.

Children and youth are exposed to various human rights abuses and faces new challenges in an ever changing environment. The need for survival, to conform to street culture, group dynamics, peer and social pressures; and poverty related conditions can increase their vulnerability and place them at risk.

High levels of substance abuse, domestic and sexual violence; and neglect has further consequences for children and youth. Molo Songololo believes that children and youth who know and understand their rights are better able to protect themselves.

The organisation believes that children and youth have a right to participate in actions and decisions that affect their lives, welfare, development and protection. And play a positive role in society.

Our Child / Youth Empowerment Programme targets primary and secondary school learners through various activities aimed to;

•Facilitate interaction, sharing of experiences and peer learning and dialogue amongst children and youth
•Inform and educate children and youth about their rights and responsibilities at home, school and in community
•Develop the life-skills, social competence and leadership skills of children and youth
•Motivate children and youth to make positive life choices, to complete their schooling and open their world view to new possibilities
•Facilitate and support the participation of children and youth in public decision making processes, social policy and social actions

The programme target children and youth between 10 and 18-years of age (older youth also participate as many of them are still in the school system) from marginalized poor rural and urban communities.

The Young Men’s Forum (YMF) initiative aims to motivate and empower young men for social change.

Our vision is to have positive male role-models in a safe school and community environment committed to complete their schooling and to achieve their future dreams and aspirations.

Our mission is to reduce delinquency, abuse, violence and crime amongst young males; and to increase their educational and vocational prospects and opportunities through awareness, education and social actions.

Our target groups are male learners between 14 & 18 years of age (about 30% of participants are older than 18-yrs as they are still in grades 10 to 12).

Our empowerment activities adopts a peer education approach where participants share thoughts and experiences, learn from each other, have dialogue, motivate and promote behavior change and responsibility, focusing on the following;
*My Rights and Responsibilities - at home, school and in community
*Life-skills Development – dealing with family, school, social and inter-personal relationships and pressures
*Attitudinal and Behaviour Change - focusing on being non-violent, respect for self and other, especially women and children and embracing positive human rights values
*Personal Responsibility – inform and educate learners about sex, sexuality, sexual health; HIV/AIDS and substance abuse
*Social Awareness and Action – working together for social change

Participating schools include Cathkin, Cedar, Elsies River, Lavender Hill, Luhlaza, Mountview, New Eisleben, Proteus, Simunye and Sinethemba Senior Secondary Schools. The YMF project also do outreach work to other schools on request from learners, educators and principals.