Sport & Recreation South Africa National Youth Camps 2011

SPORT & RECREATION SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL YOUTH CAMPS 2012
Background
Early in January 2011, the Minister of Sport & Recreation Mr Fikile Mbalula, convened an extended Strategic planning session of the Sport & Recreation National and Provincial Departments as well as the Sport Confederation and the Federations at Misty Hills in the West Rand of Gauteng. After three days of robust discussions and deliberations, the Strategic Session emerged with a ground breaking document, the Roadmap for Optimum Performance and Functional Excellence and the document is further supported by the National sports plan

The National Sports and Recreation Plan (NSRP) is the blueprint and consensus document which explicitly outlines the six priority areas on which the Sport & Recreations broader community under the leadership of the Minister would focus going forward. One of key projects which were identified and adopted as part of the paradigm shifts initiatives under the Roadmap document was the Youth Camps Project.

The topic of youth is back on the international agenda. The topic “politics for and with young people” therefore gets a new relevance

Politicians, Business, Communities etc. are concerned with youth problems.

There is currently a lack of adequate opportunities for positive social interaction, unequal distribution of resources, a high rate of unemployment, a high rate of crime and other social ills. Sport and recreation is valued as a social connector and a powerful development tool;

Well designed sport and physical activity programmes are potent mechanisms for fostering healthy youth and individual development, teaching positive values and life skills and for reducing conflict;

Youth sport and recreation networks are an important source and means for social networking, helping to combat exclusion and for fostering youth capacity to work collectively towards the realization of opportunities and addressing the challenges faced by young people;

Youth gatherings, networks and programmes can help to empower and promote the inclusion of disadvantaged youth especially, disabled youth, out of school youth, youth at risk, girl children, unemployed youth and rural youth.

SRSA aims to:

• 
  Unlock adequate opportunities for positive social interaction through national youth gatherings
  
• 
  Strengthen, in an organized and coordinated manner, the ability of young people to work cooperatively across race, ethnicity, gender, geographical location, class, language and creed;
  
• 
  Organize annual national youth camps to keep young people active, interested in life with increased self-esteem, promote patriotism and a strong sense of citizenship among young people
  

Context- Introducing Youth Camps in South Africa

In introducing Youth Camps in South Africa, it should be noted that this initiative as led by the Minister, comes at a time, when Young People in South Africa are beset with a plethora of challenges, which require concerted and creative efforts to overcome. With this hind side, the Youth Camps should therefore serve as a common platform for young people across the entire nation to come together and utilising the power of Sport & Recreation to tackle the complex subjects which challenge them today and explore various initiatives on how to overcome them.

In doing so, the primary objective however, will remain to develop these young people, and empower them with the requisite values, soft-skills and knowledge that can assist them to become responsible, conscious citizens and to strengthen their sense of patriotism and national identity.

For that reason and on an annual basis, each province will identify its “young campers for that respective year” in line with predetermined criteria, who will be sent to attend the national camp.
Due to its holistic focus on the broad spectrum of young people’s development, the camps will be led by the Sport & Recreation Department working in partnership with other relevant Departments and Public entities, particularly the National Youth Development Agency whose primary mandate is Youth Development. Partnership will also be sought with the Private Sector as well as relevant Civil Society Organisations.



YOUTH CAMPS- THE CURRENT SITUATION

Youth Camps – Current Situation, Locally and Globally

Both within and beyond the shores of South Africa, the concept of “Youth Camps” is not new at all!

Over the years, different organisations and public organs have implemented this initiative of Youth Camps on different scales, for different purposes and with varied degrees of success. However, a quick glimpse on existing Youth Camps initiatives in South Africa points out to mostly localised activities arranged along issue-based themes or communities as well as some ventures driven along commercial lines to promote certain geographic destinations. For example most of the active Youth Camps are arranged along religious lines or issue-based civil society mobilisation like HIV & AIDS campaigns and sports focus camps like basketball without borders camps. South Africa used to have a number of camps in the early eighties, camps like Winning the hearts and minds of the youth (WHAM). The youth was trained on Leadership but the downside of WHAM was the brainwash on terrorism.
Camps on youth at risk were organised by the sports commission with NICRO where youth at risk was exposed to outdoor adventure games, orienteering and Life skills.

The then department of Education used sport organisers to co ordinate youth camps in their regions and they worked with regions and municipalities..

Youth Camps – The global picture
Beyond our shores, the picture is however quite different and this offers a splendid opportunity for good, tried and tested benchmarks and best practice models which can be utilised to develop a uniquely South African National Youth Camp.

Among some of the models that can be referenced against are:

Name	Detail
Camp Winaukee	Camp Winaukee is a private residential boys' camp held on Lake Winnipesaukee in the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the United States. The camp offers seven week sessions but it also has shorted sessions. It was founded as far back as 1920 and it currently enjoys a reputation as one of the premier sports and adventure camps in America. Most of the alumni of this camp refer to it not as a camp but a culture of good values that is passed down from generation to generation. The Winaukee community embraces a core philosophy set forth on the six branches of the so called, Winaukee "Tree of Values", i.e (1) Enthusiasm, (2) Loyalty, (3) Sportsmanship, (4) Friendship, (5) Achievement and (6) Cooperation. These values are instilled in Winaukee campers through a sports & adventure program and unique traditions that have been at the heart of Winaukee's 85 year history.
Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of Georgia- International Youth Camp “Patriot” 2011	In the Republic of Georgia in Eastern Europe, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has a program called International Youth Camp “Patriot”. This program as initiated by the President of Georgia, represents non-formal, educational, entertaining summer camp which aims to, (1) involve youngsters in non-formal educational processes, (2) increase youngster’s physical, emotional and intellectual potential, (3) social integration, (4) to promote international friendship among youngsters from all over the world and to involve them in intercultural learning process and (5) to increase youth active participation in society.
Youth Sports Camp day- Aug 2011- Mbekelweni Swaziland	In its recent episode, this camp brought together about 400 youth from 10 CarePoints at Mbekelweni, which was also its first annual sports camp day. Its content constituted of competitions for sport trophies as well as exchange of discussions and personal experience with Jesus Christ since the camp is ran along religious lines. The big mission of the camp was also encouraging participants to covert to Christ and become born again The view of most participants was that it was just great to get to hang out and be friendly. The camp is basically collided cultures from around the Swaziland country with one thing in common-Friendship.

Youth Camps – The South Africa picture

Generally speaking, South Africa is still lacking behind when it comes to exploiting the power of Youth Camps as a massive enabler towards social cohesion and nation building. Due to the divided past of this country, there are still very few Youth Camps that have deep history in this country which are organised across racial and class lines. Where there are such Camps, they are mostly church or commercial driven or schools driven

A look at the picture of existing youth in South Africa points to mostly commercially driven Camps that are ran along single sport-codes or as exotic places where various groups can retreat to:

Name	Detail	Type
Indingo Skate Camp	Most participants in the Indigo Skate Camp are driven by the spirit of discovery and exploration. They are inspired by a sense of boundless adventure. According to the Indingo Skate Camp website, the campers should be prepared to walk away from camp amazed at the sense of community and support from all skaters that make up Indigo Skate Camp. The camps strength is reportedly in the number of participants that they attract to the facility, with an average number of 50 skaters a day attending our after school day care program at camp, I am convinced that our skate park in the Valley of 1 000 Hills is the most popular park in the country right now – crazy but true!	Scateboard Coded & Commercial
WFD Youth Camp	The main objectives of the WFD camps are (1) To train and develop organisational and leadership skills in Deaf Youth and (2) To facilitate networking among Deaf Youth. These objectives emphasizes the importance of running WFD Youth Camps, which is to give opportunity directly to Deaf Youth to meet on an international level, share ideas, experience and grow as individuals as well as leaders, to strive in making this world a better place for everyone. To attend a WFD Youth Camp, participants must be between 18-30 years of age, and the National Associations of the Deaf/Youth Associations must select up to four participants ( 2 selected and 2 alternatives	Sectoral ( For the Deaf & Non-Profit based)
Sweetdale Camp	Exciting experiential learning outdoor: -School and Youth Camp at the South Coast in Margate: Our facilities are designed to maximise the opportunities of being in an outdoor learning setting. Teachers with their students are challenged with new and demanding activities which are facilitated to help them to develop and improve their personal skills. The physical challenges of life in the outdoors help to develop self-reliance and personal responsibility. Welcome in the world of Sweetdale.	Learner- targeted and commercial

YOUTH CAMPS- GAP Analysis
A big gap that still exists however, is all embracing, transversally focused Youth Camps that organically snowball from local communities and culminates towards an overarching national Youth Camp that will be held annually. It is against that background therefore that the Minister of Sport & Recreation has identified the power of “Sport” to serve a unifying and enabling instrument that can provide an opportunity for such Youth Camps in the South Africa. The camps will bring together over three hundred young people per province across all racial, religious and sectoral disciplines to interact on an inter-cultural basis, share experience and acquire new knowledge in a fun-driven way. A total of 2700 youth will be exposed to this programme annually.
Youth Camps
The Youth Camps will focus mainly on the following five elements which constitutes the hallmark features of the Youth Camps and set them apart from a plethora of other existing initiatives:

1. 
   Sport: - As an enabler and utilising the power of Sport as a unifier
   
2. 
   Youth: - As target participants and taking into account the diverse sectors and strata
   
3. 
   Camp: - As strategic platforms through which Young People from diverse background can converge in one setting
   
4. 
   Social Cohesion, Leadership & National Identity: - As strategic objectives to be achieved through the Camps
   
5. 
   Integration: - Different agencies and public organs working together in an integrated manner, through Sport as a transversal enabler, to address the holistic development needs of young people and channel them towards a single goal of an active and conscious citizenship.
   

The “Sport” element
The role which Sport can play in contribution towards Social Cohesion and Nation Building can never be overemphasised.

As it is, there are already various reports that speaks quite profoundly on this subject including the Report for the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace. Premising from a definition that “sport” are all forms of physical activity that contribute to physical fitness, mental well-being and social interaction, the report reflects on the importance of various sporting activities including play, recreation, organised casual or competitive sport as well as indigenous sport or games.

Key among the finding of this report is its recommendation that “well-designed sport-based initiatives are practical and cost-effective tools to achieve objectives in development and peace. Sport is a powerful vehicle that should be increasingly considered by the United Nations as complementary to existing activities.”

The “Youth” Element
The National Youth Development Agency Act (Act. 54 of 2008) describes “youth” as persons between the ages of 14 and 35 and according to the results of the last Census (i.e. Census 2001), “youth” form a 40.5 % of the 44.5 million South African population at a total tally of 18.1 million.
As one of the greatest South African Liberation Fighters once acclaimed, “A nation that does not take care of its youth does not deserve its future.” For that reason, it is extremely important that deliberate focus be directed at ensuring that young people are empowered with critical life skills, values and norms that will assist them to realise a smooth transition from the “youth” into responsible and accountable adulthoods who can occupy their rightful place as responsible citizens and leaders of society. (Please name the person)
For that reason, the Youth Camps will integrate critical principles of Youth Development as captured in Section 4 of the NYDA Act that:

1. 
   Recognition of the manner in which youth has been affected by the imbalances of the past and the need to redress these imbalances through more equitable policies, programmes and the allocation of resources.
   
2. 
   Promotion of equal opportunities and equal treatment of youth and the promotion of gender-inclusive approach to the development of youth, where the social influences of gender, disability, the impact of sexism and the particular circumstances of young women are recognised.
   
3. 
   Creation of an environment which support the continued development and learning of youth
   
4. 
   Promotion of youth’s participation in (i) democratic prosses, (ii) community and civic decision-making; and (iii) development at all level.
   

The “Camp” Element
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a “Camp” can assume definitions of a (1) place, (2) a body of persons or (3) even a military service. In this case, the following definitions are worthy of noting:

• 
  1(a) a place usually away from the urban areas where tent or simple buildings (as cabins) are erected for shelter or for temporary residence (as for laborers, prisoners, or vacationers), (d) a place usually in the country for recreation or instruction often during the summer or (e) a preseason training session for athletes (training camps)
  
• 
  2(a) a body of persons encamped, (b) 1: A group of persons: especially: a group engaged in promoting or defending a theory, doctrine, position, or person (2) or an ideological position.
  
• 
  3: military service or life.
  

Having noted the above, the Youth Camps in how they are envisaged by the Minister of Sport & Recreation South Africa will be organised as “A scheduled integrated program for identified participants in line with the approved criteria, held annually for recreational, educational and civic consciousness empowerment purposes through collaborative participation of the national and provincial departments of Sport & Recreation, including also other Departments, Public Entities, Civil Society and Private Sector.”

The “Social Cohesion , Leadership & National Identity” Element

1. 
   Leadership: Develop leadership skills through various life skills activities and team work. Leadership skills of being able to inspire and direct fellow human participants, and create cohesive and effective teams to achieve common goals.
   

2. 
   Social cohesion is what holds society together.It provides coherence, unity and functionality as well as an environment within which its citizens can flourish. Develop positive bonds amongst young people, promote tolerance and respect for diversity.South Africa has diverse population and cultural groups. It is critical to create and develop an interactive society, particularly amongst the youth as they are tomorrow’s leaders. The interventions towards Social Cohesion should include; community development, inter-cultural projects, through active participation
   

3. 
   Nation building: Various factors have led to youth not paying attention and pride in the South African identity. Youth should be encouraged to take the perception of “What can I do for my country, v/s what can my country do for me”. Active participation through national services, volunteerism and taking pride in the symbols, cultural heritage and historical knowledge of the country should be promoted. A knowledgeable nation is a cornerstone of a growing society. Explore common grounds e.g National symbols, and emblems, sharing of heritage and proudly South African, an opportunity for young people to learn about the common symbols that binds communities together such as flags, anthems, national days, and in a sports context, national teams. Nation building
   

The strategy on Social Cohesion and National identity should enable youth to participate fully in the society by promoting existing positive bonds among young people. Young people should be nurtured and empowered to make responsible decisions, take full responsibility for themselves, for others and for their environment, and act as agents of positive social change. The premise in this regard is therefore that to instil the values of Social cohesion among the campers in order to promote tolerance of, and respect for, diversity (in terms of religion, ethnicity, economic situation, political preferences, sexuality, gender and age), both institutionally and individually.

1. 
   Promote social cohesion, nation building and national identity among South Africans
   
2. 
   To address challenges of eliminating poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and other symptoms of under development
   
3. 
   To eliminate racialism, xenophobia, sexism and other aspects of intolerance
   
4. 
   To empower youth to make an active contribution towards sustainable economic environment
   
5. 
   To achieve a legacy of lasting value beyond each Youth Camp
   

The “Integration” Element
In the implementation of the Youth Camp, special attention will be given towards ensuring that there are different key role players such as government, civil society and the private sector on board to add value towards the success of the youth camps. In working through partnership, the Camp will be better empowered to address the holistic needs and challenges of the young people, which include (1) economic participation, (2) educational and skills development, (3) youth work, (4) health and wellbeing, (5) social cohesion and national youth service and (6) sport & recreation.

For that reason, some of the key stakeholders that have already been identified are:

• 
  Sport & Recreation South Africa
  
• 
  National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
  
• 
  Department of Arts & Culture
  
• 
  Department of Labour
  
• 
  Department of Defence
  
• 
  Department of Trade & Industry
  
• 
  Department of Health
  
• 
  Department of Social Development
  
• 
  South African Police Service
  

Implementation Approach
What is the Camp?
A place that will provide learning and inspirational experiences that will guide youth for the rest of their live.

The national camp will be held over five days at a central place where all provinces will converge. Discussions are still ongoing to have the Department of Defence serving as a base for the Youth Camps due to their unique infrastructure, facilities and systems (The Camp should however NOT be misconstrued to be militaristic or modelled as military camps…this is purely for logistical reasons!)

A place that will enrich and strengthen youth abilities in the field of:

Sport

Culture and Heritage

Physical Readiness

Mental Readiness

Career readiness

Networking

Building Relationships

Sharing of Inter-cultural ideas & personal experiences

National Youth Service

Youth Participation in Governance & Politics

What is the intended outcome?

An active young population in South Africa which is cognisant of its situation and environment, mindful of its challenges and determined to overcome them inspired by their sense of patriotism, discipline and national identity whilst still proud of their youth and unique talents!

What the Camp in not?

1. 
   Policy Formulating Body
   
2. 
   Talkshop
   
3. 
   This will not be a get together for the fun of it.
   

Who is the target participant for the Camp?

1. 
   All South African Youth (14-25) as defined by SRSA
   
2. 
   The camp will be target at all South African Youth.
   
3. 
   Youth will be divided into categories where competent and young leaders will also act as mentees of younger youth.
   
4. 
   These Youth will come from different backgrounds and different education systems.
   
5. 
   We need to use these youth to help their underprivileged youth.
   
6. 
   Each province will send 300 young people in line with the approved selection criteria
   

What will the Camp do?

1. 
   This camp will holistically deal with all matters relating to the youth and the development of the youth.
   
2. 
   We want lasting friendships and relationships to come from the camps.
   
3. 
   Working Sessions will be recorded for history purposes and to distribute to schools and others who did not participate on that particular year.
   
4. 
   The objective of the camp is to teach youth though sports about their future and give them a methodological framework for associated actions (what they need to do to survive), to offer them the precious opportunity to observe Ubuntu in action and to give them the opportunity to discover different cultures in a friendly atmosphere.
   

What will the camp entail

1. 
   There will be games played at the Youth Camps. These games must be interesting but challenging games.
   
2. 
   They can involve walking through dangerous terrains (hypothetically land-mined fields) as though in a conflict-laden geopolitical terrain.
   
3. 
   They can be competing to settle a joint task one by one at such a speed and with such accuracy as possible.
   
4. 
   The games must be challenging and educative.
   
5. 
   They must deal with: sensitivity to detail; teamwork and human interdependence; and time management. These are extremely important for the development of the youth.
   
6. 
   The strategic message (content) of nation building, social cohesion and national identity will be built into all the activities and games at the camp so that learning and assimilation happens in a relaxed and exciting way.
   
7. 
   Obstacle courses and oreenteering
   

How will the campers benefit from the Camp?

1. 
   You will get tangible benefits out of attending this Course:
   
2. 
   They will learn about leadership and leadership qualities.
   
3. 
   They will learn about hardwork.
   
4. 
   They will learn about planning.
   
5. 
   They will learn about nation building, social cohesion and leadership
   
6. 
   How to maintain relationships.
   
7. 
   How to discover your own talents.
   
8. 
   They will be involved in enriching activities and outreach
   
9. 
   They will be able to think critically about their role in developing others and working together in teams.
   
10. 
    At the end of the Camp, each camper will be awarded a certificate of participation and a “welcome token” into the ranks of the Sport & Recreation Youth Camp 2012 Class of Alumni
    

5.8 How will they learn?

1. 
   Through workshops.
   
2. 
   Hands on activities
   
3. 
   Motivational speakers
   
4. 
   Debates
   
5. 
   Teamwork exercises
   
6. 
   National Youth Service Assignment
   

5.9 What will they learn?

1. 
   Responsibility
   
2. 
   Leadership
   
3. 
   Respect
   
4. 
   Sportsmanship
   
5. 
   Teamwork
   
6. 
   Cohesion and National Building.
   
7. 
   National Youth Service
   
8. 
   They will learn through networking.
   
9. 
   Sharing ideas.
   
10. 
    Outdoor adventure activities
    

The Alumni programme

Objective

Establish a system for exchange of knowledge and experience through sport for development networks and exhibitions.
Supporting statement: Integration of various skills: to make participants aware of the various skills, expertise and resources available within the community and be able to call on them. It will provide a platform for sporting federations, different spheres of government (municipalities, province and national) and other relevant institutions (NYDA; DTI; Business Club, etc) to showcase and inform the community change agents of their services.

There are a number of active youth within NGOs; CSI; FBO; MPP, but they don’t know each other. Camps will create a network for existing initiatives within communities and a singleness of purpose guided by our country’s’ constitutional values.

To develop a community integrated plan around sports and recreation. These organizations can synchronize their community calendar.

• 
  Camp program should provide links to other youth programmes.
  
• 
  Engaging the whole spectrum of the youth will bring about all sorts of expertise and resources by retaining program alumni¹.
  
• 
  Exchange programmes will be coordinated for the youth to share experiences
  

How will the outcomes be assessed?

1. 
   Presentations must be prepared and debates before a panel of experienced adjudicators: in addition to presentations to fellow youth, participants must do the above as well.
   

2. 
   If the participants debate, it will show them what goes on during real-world governance debates, enabling the camp to become a grooming session for them.
   

3. 
   The evaluation will focus mainly on the five areas of (1) Responsibility, (2) Leadership, (3) Respect, (4) Sportsmanship and (5) Teamwork
   

Youth Camp- Stratification ( Please see attached document)

Stakeholder Matrix

The following are some of the identified stakeholders, who will be approached for partnership in the Youth Camp Project:

STAKEHOLDERS	ROLES/WHO	VALUE ADD/ACTION REQUIRED
SRSA	Ministry	Convener Sports and Recreation Activities
Arts and Culture	Departmental officials ( Themba Mazibuko) Museum Officials Heritage Officials	Social cohesion and nation building
National Youth Development Agency		Volunteerism Youth participation Youth development
Civil Society	Various Parties	Providing content input. The role of the youth in civil society.

Implementation Roll- out Plan (Please see project plan for 2012/12)

CONCLUSION

SRSA consider Sport for development as major thrust in the socio-political arena of development work and as a change agent for an enhanced quality of life, community regeneration or cohesion, human development and empowerment.

This concept document therefore seeks to provide a National blueprint around the Youth Camps and to further serve as guiding toolkit for the implementation process of the Youth Camps.

1 Once employed the participant is considered an alumni