Aim & activities: After-School and Holiday Care that nurture young children who are otherwise unsupervised due to their parents working or absence and unable to afford quality care. The children experience positive behaviours in the people surrounding them in a fun and playful environment that motivates and builds them. The aftercare is an opportunity to grow further academically, socially and creatively. Usiko’s aim is to make learning interesting and fun through new ways of learning (experiential, small group) sport, recreation, arts, dance, drama, culture; exposure to careers and wider-world thinking.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 120

Boys & Girls | Grades R (5/6 years old) to Grade 6 (12 years old)

Aim & activities: Sports, Green environmental awareness and Youth-Led Clubs run at partner schools after normal hours. 150 beneficiaries per year.

Sports include cricket, soccer, netball and rugby. Green Clubs around environmental awareness, recycling and planting vegetable gardens. A Youth-Led Club is for all graduates of the Usiko programmes who run community-benefiting campaigns such as donations of toys and events for the elderly, as well as advocacy around youth issues.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 150

Boys & girls at primary & high school | Grades 7 – 11 (ages 12 – 18) | One academic year

Youth-Led: Boys and Girls graduates of Usiko Progarmmes | Grades 11 & 12 (age 17 – 20)

A pilot programme run for three-years in collaboration with three other Non-Profit Organisations – one based in the UK and two based in Cape Town. The project aims to learn about the issues girls and young women face in gang infected communities and provide interventions for preventions and help, assisting girls and young women with choices for their life paths. The project is part of a larger, worldwide initiative working with organisations doing similar work in the UK and Columbia to share learning and best practise.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 25

School girls | Aged 16-17 years in Grades 10-11

Young women | Aged 18 – 35

Aim & activities: Remedial, preventive and developmental support over one academic year, with the aim of keeping youth in school, building resilience and self-esteem, passing school grades and ultimately helping to complete their basic education and steering away from criminal activities.

The programme’s focus is on self-esteem, life skills development, teenage sexuality and pregnancy, HIV/Aids awareness, girl-to-women and boy-to-man development and other adolescent development issues. The learners receive weekly workshops, 3 – 4 day wilderness camp experiences, and educational and fun excursions.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 325

Phase 0: Primary School Boys & Girls| Grade 7 (12/13 years) | February – November

Phase 1: High School Boys and Girls | Grades 10 – 11 (15 – 17 years) | February – November

Aim & activities: There are two versions of the programme: (1) Social Crime Prevention is run at schools for learners with behavioural problems that put them at risk of entering lives of crime. (2) Youth offenders recommended by the courts and probation services onto the programme as an alternative to incarceration.

The goal of both programmes is to unpack the adolescents’ struggle, to instil self-esteem and restore a sense of responsibility, while creating belonging, meaning and purpose in their lives so that they will make positive choices for their future that steers them away from criminal behaviour.

The Diversion programme is only one of a handful in the Western Cape, accredited by the Department of Social Development, which means that once a youth offender has completed the programme their criminal record will be cleared.

Parents: While youth take part in the court based diversion programme, a parallel parent support programme is run on a weekly basis. This is unique to Usiko who has custom-designed the programme in order to allow deep and sustainable change to happen for the whole family. Parents receive specialised support of social workers in a group or individual setting, developing their coping and boundary setting skills.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 60 Court Recommended, 60 Social Prevention, 60 Parents

Youth Offenders – Court | 12-18 years | 3 months cycle x 4

Recommended Parents & Care givers: Adults

Social Crime Prevention – at-risk to Crime | 12-18 years | 6 months cycles, x 2 at 3 schools

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

Aim & activities: To aid the transition into the working world through vocational skills, internships and help with accessing bursaries and further education: 150 beneficiaries.

The programme runs over one year and works with 150 youth per annum who have completed Usiko’s other programmes. The sustainable livelihoods programme aims to improve high school attendance and increase youth employability. As well as practical vocational skills, it aids learners in making informed decisions about their life path and career opportunities, supporting them during the vulnerable transition from school to the working world.

The services offered include grants in aid to help learners to stay in school. These grants would cover the payment of school fees, uniforms and stationery. Services are geared towards gaining access to work, further training opportunities or higher education options. Participants who may have already dropped out of school are assisted with alternative educational and learnership possibilities.

A range of activities are available to assist beneficiaries, including internships and learnerships, job-hunting skills, CV writing and help understanding the interview process. Driving licenses and computer skills allow beneficiaries to have a competitive advantage in the job market and so learner classes and driving lessons with the relevant tests are offered along with basic business skills. Entrepreneurship is encouraged through classes and training as well as small amounts of seed funding to help set up businesses.

Number of Beneficiaries (per amnum): 150

Usiko is collaborating and forging strong relationships with career enabling companies and non-profit organisations to bring sustainable careers and job readiness to community members most in need of employment support.

In November 2023, the Webers Valley Winelands Skill Centre was launched.  The centre is based at the Usiko office in Jamestown for community members from across the whole of the Western Cape.

Over 50 online certified courses are available plus access to job opportunities & learnerships.

Usiko work with a group of rural women, many of whom have never worked in the formal job market due to lack of education, skills and confidence, who are taken through this job readiness programme.

Aim & activities: To increase confidence, self-esteem and resilience; Improve economic opportunities.

Improve practical work skills and experience; Increased support and a safe space to bring work challenges, thereby enabling work retention; The creation of a sisterhood group that increases sense of belonging. 

Workshop life skills sessions building self-esteem, empowerment, and leadership skills through Usiko’s Wilderness Therapy model

Looking at their goals and dreams.  A skills survey to start looking at what employment they wish to seek and understand what skills and talents they have to offer. They learn driving skills and receive their learner and full driver’s license, basic computer literacy skills and support in finding opportunities, access to networks, CV Writing, interview skills, preparation, and supply of suitable interview clothes.

Number of Beneficiaries (per annum): 30

Adult Women | 18 - 45 years | March - February