Volume 1, Issue 7

October - December 2011

Umanqoba
From the Desk of the CEO
This Newsletter is Proudly Sponsored by:
Its unbelievable that it is that time of the year, a time of sharing and giving. A time when we reflect back and consider how we made it over. For me and most of us when we ponder on the high times and the low times of the year, we are grateful that we have overcome. For some of us this has not been a good year on the other hand others had a year of their lives. But in the end we have made it. I am the most grateful person living on this earth today. Now that is a statement that will astonish many people. If you have been where I have been you will understand the context of that statement. Despite the many challengers we have faced this year, everyone at Conquest For Life have shown the spirit of a Conqueror. In one of the movies of Leon Schuster, one character said they dont call me die hard for nothing. That is the spirit that our partners, staff and donors have displayed in making this year 2011 a memorable moment. I remember the words of Jesse Jackson during a concert of Aretha Franklin. He said we thank God for the bad and the days. The bad days allow us to appreciate just how good, the good days were. With this attitude and mindset I would like to enjoy what is left of the year and to end it on a high note We want to wish all our friends, parents a blessed festive season and for those that are going on holiday please drive safely and remember we need you to help us make a difference. Everyone a change maker .

Glen Steyn, Founder and CEO of Conquest For

Inside this issue:

Building Bridges Diversion Camp SucWhat happens in the camps Ennerdale JFK YDF Workshop Our donors Support us 2 2

Conquest for Life Computer Training Centre

By: Sibusiso Ndaba The Conquest for Life Computer Training Centre offers basic, intermediate and advance computer courses that equip learners with necessary knowledge they will need to search for jobs using the internet. The Computer Training Centre consist of three programmes: office computer training and parent, internet development and community programme that get learners ready for the demanding work environment. All these programmes help improve computer literacy, job search skills and employability amongst young and old community members that enroll for the computer training at Conquest. Lerato Antony, one of the students says she had little knowledge about computers, but has learned a lot in the past two weeks, she can now type faster and use Microsoft Office, and had a wonderful experience.

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Umanqoba

Building Bridges Diversion Camp a Success

This Newsletter is proudly Sponsored by:
By: Sibusiso Ndaba Conquest for Life staff facilitated a youth camp that happened from the 19th until the 21st of August 2011, at the De Deur in Vereeniging. The aim of the camp was to give young people the chance to change their life by making them learn from their mistakes. A total of fifteen participants (seven from Soweto, two from Westbury, four from Ennerdale and two from Orange farm) took part in the three-day camp under the watchful eyes of five Conquest for Life Staff from four different offices-John from West bu ry; Du n is an i and Njabulo from Soweto; Janine from Ennerdale and Kaylene from Orange Farm- to make sure that everything goes smooth and accordingly. The facilitators and participants arrived at the camp on a Friday night at about 18h00, immediately upon arrival the facilita-

The programme reduce the reoffending of crime, create alternative environment to violence and crime.

ABOVE: Dunisani facilitating at the Diversion camp.

tors held a meeting about what activities should be done. Overall, the camp was ran successfully as it was planned, it enabled facilitators to assess the progress of the participants. It is recommended that the participants are informed that after the camp, it is not the end of the road they need to work hard to change their lives for the better. There should be regular meetings between the four branches to discuss the camps and draw

up the programme and organize other Diversion camps in other weekends. Rhulani Ntuthu, one of the participants that took part in the camp said, Conquest for Life taught him to take responsibility in everything he does in life and, he is responsible for his own actions. The camp taught him about life and how to live it to the fullest; in a healthy way. Rhulani concluded by saying he learnt a lot of soccer skills that his coach didnt teach him.

What Happens at the Camps

Above: The camp participants participating in co-operative learning during the camp at Ver-

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Volume 1, Issue 7

Ennerdale Just for Kids Programme

By: Sibusiso Ndaba The children that we deal with in Ennerdale, come from different cultures and backgrounds, what we do is visit different schools - five at the most every week to teach them life skills through games and give the children motivational talks about life and how they can make it despite their background and coming from disadvantaged communities where one can easily be associated with gangsterism and substance abuse. We sometimes invite a school teacher, the principal or a learner that is really excelling in his or her school work to come and address the Just for Kids (JFK) participants and to motivate the ones that have lost hope in life. The children respond very well to our programmes, because we sometimes get praises from the teachers about how we have changed the attitude and behavior of one of the learners that was giving them problems in class before attending the Just for Kids programme. According to Kaylene Kok, a youth worker at the Ennerdale branch, they deal with different schools each year. But currently they have seven schools that they are working with - four primary schools and three secondary schools - in and around the Ennerdale area. Life Orientation (LO) teacher at Ennerdale Secondary School, Ms Phiri, approached Conquest for Life staff that is responsible for facilitating JFK programmes and asked them to keep records of children that take part in the JFK games so she can give them marks for their participation. Kaylene says she experiences difficulties when working with the grade nine and grade ten pupils, because it takes time to get their attention and getting them focused on the games, but after a while they will comply and do the work that she gives them. But it is a different story with the matriculates, because they have matured it is easy working with them. The LO teacher says the JFK programme has really helped her do her job with ease, because now she need not to go to the grounds to teach her learners life skills games, the JFK programme does that for her. When working with the pri- ABOVE: Kaylene Kok, a Youth mary school pupils, Kaylene worker at the Ennerdale office faces the same problem of getting the children to concentrate on the games given to them, but says you have to bring a whistle to school in odder to work with "Alone and them efficiently, when they without his nest, start making noise you just blow the whistle and they will the Eagle shall give you their full attention, I soar across the guess that is how their teachers sun." trained them Kaylene added.

These are the schools that CFL Ennerdale works with: Poseidon primary school; Pectrum primary school; Odin park primary school; Mid-Ennerdale primary school; Oakdale secondary school; Daleview secondary school;

Kahlil Gibran, Lebanese American artist, poet and author

workshop Crime Prevention through Football worksho

Conquest For Life have a partnership with YDF and through this partnership they teach children and youth life skills using soccer/football as a methodology. Conquest For Life have incorporated football for empowerment through football in all it projects. Every week in one of our programs we use football as a vehicle to teach life skills in schools, in the
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Prison, I our division program and in our youth at risk camps. Every one loves soccer and what a fun and interesting way to teach skills that matter for life. During the month of September, two staff member Kaylene and Dunisani attended a four day train the trainers workshop in Kempton Park hosted by YDF. The purpose of the training was to use the game that every one loves

one loves to prevent crime. Participants as far as Kenya attended the workshop that proves to be a very valuable toolkit in the prevention of crime. On a daily basis children and young people talk about soccer as if soccer is a family member. They know more about soccer than they know their school work or the career path they want to follow. By mediation, conflict resolution through football crime can be solved

Above: Participants at the YDF training

Conquest for Life

FOLLOW US ON
Phone Fax E-mail Web : 011 473-1651 : 086 688-9303 : info@conquest.org.za :www.conquest.org.za

t.or nques w w.co w

g.za

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR LOYAL DONORS & PARTNERS

LV & I Middleton Charitable Trust Solomon Ruben & Ann Winer Benefit Trust Allan Wentzel

E BELLAIRS ESTATE

CTP

Contac

Support us; Your support is appreciated

The resources required to successfully run a concern such as Conquest for Life are many and varied. The following list are suggestions for you to choose a particular way that you could assist:

t The C EO ON 011 47 3 1651

A monetary donation between R10 and R1000 000 or any other amount you feel drawn to donate. A monthly commitment of R100, R1000, or R10 000 which we will use towards meeting our monthly running costs. Specific donations towards the cost of producing our newsletters and broachers Donations of household and office furniture, equipment, stationary - paper, printers, faxes, carpets, crockery and cutlery, linen and accessories. We gladly come and collect. Computers and equipment will enable us to meet the growing needs in our Computer Training programme as well as running our programmes and administration efficiently. Hardware supplies like paint, tools and garden equipment will assist us in maintaining the building in each of our branches. We welcome anyone who would like to share their time, talents and skills with us that will enable us to meet all our objectives. Please feel free to call the director and discuss any other means not mentioned above that you see will assist us in reaching our objectives.

BANKING DETAILS Account Name : CONQUST FOR LIFE Bank Name: NEDBANK Branch: INDUSTRIA Account type: CURRENT Account Number: 1963 297 113 Swift Address: NEDSZAJJ