Changing lives one young person at a time is the mantra the I Am Passion (IAP) Youth Café Mitchell’s Plain lives by.
And on Friday November 2, 17 young people graduated from the organisation’s leadership mastery course at the Town Centre Library.
Graduate Jade Staine said: “When I started the programme, I felt as though I didn’t reach my full potential of confidence.
“As I continued with the programme, I later realised that I had all the confidence. I see myself being successful in the future. I took the time out to be here. Do not forget your dreams, your goals and potential.”
Anothergraduate,Faldeelah Moses, added: “Every class had an impact. I started this programme in August, and I can feel I am growing.
“I don’t want to do what my parents did, I want to achieve all I can. My business is successful; I am in the fourth month of my business.
“I look forward to being the boss lady one day. I want to make a change in this community.”
The programme focuses on three key areas: Counter Culture, which homes in on high schools and primary schools; Go Leaders, which equips leadership groups and the Youth Cafe, which is aimed at empowering young people.
I Am Passion founder Bradley van Reenen believes in building your inner-man, becoming the best you can be, doing personal development courses and being vision-focused.
All the courses run at the Youth Café are free, with a focus on personal and skills development.
On Fridays the Youth Café has specialised courses such as first aid, parenting skills as well as Zumba classes.
Meche van der Vent, the Youth Café manager and fundraiser for IAP said: “Weencourageourstudents to become entrepreneurs with the innovative business ideas they have. We have been stuck in the nine-to-five system for far too long, and we believe that it not only is our time but our turn, as South Africans, to break the status quo and rise above systems to become innovators in our respective fields.”
The Youth Café works closely with the departments of social development, and labour and the Blaq Pearl Foundation, to name a few.
There are Youth Cafés in Saldanha Bay, Crossroads, Capricorn, and Oudtshoorn. Most of the staff at the Youth Café are studying and have also started their own businesses.
For more information contact Ms van der Vent at 073 661 3056 or iampassionyouthcafe@gmail.com or visit the Youth Café on the corner of 1st and 7th avenue (the building above Golden Arrow ticket kiosks) Eastridge, Town Centre.