We were initially thrown in the deep end, trying to get such a great project started in a place where we reside. But following our first successful fundraiser, we now had the means to start the work. After a couple of weeks of searching for a community that we would like to help, we ran into Usiko Stellenbosch.
Usiko is an NGO that works with the Jamestown community and is involved in helping at-risk youth. They primarily focus on encouraging youth and provide them with positive ‘rites of passage’ in order to push them towards self-identification, with the hopes of changing their lives for the better. One of Usiko’s core values is also nature, and that’s where we came in. Despite a packed aftercare program designed to help enrich the lives of the youth of Jamestown, LiC has managed to find a slot every Thursday to teach some of their candidates about basic ecological principles.
It has been a great privilege for us as a young NPC to work with and learn from the 25 years of experience that Usiko brings, having helped 15 000 youths. They have inspired us as a team to continue this pursuit in trying to change lives for the better. For they have shown that if you care enough about the hearts of the youth, you can make a difference.