Eyolutsha leMpumaKapa, a youth-led project funded by Kindernothilfe, KNH implemented in the Eastern Cape’s Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and Amathole Districts, has made significant progress in its implementation over the past few months.
In February 2026, the project hosted a dynamic refresher training bootcamp in Port Elizabeth for youth ambassadors from Sakhisizwe High School and Booysens Park High School. About fifty ambassadors were supported by four teachers and two senior trainers on a comprehensive three-day programme, which strengthened their leadership skills and equipped them to roll out peer education sessions within their schools. At Sakhisizwe High School, four ambassadors launched the Each One Teach One initiative, pairing up to engage fellow learners and extending the reach of their audiences. The sessions cover key topics including understanding gender norms, power and gender, Gender-Based Violence, challenging harmful gender norms, building healthy relationships and communication, and encouraging young people to take action. In the first round alone, thirty-six learners were reached, with ongoing sessions continuing across both schools to ensure sustained impact.
“This bootcamp has empowered us to share knowledge with our peers and create lasting change in our schools,” said Sithandiwe Tshika, a youth ambassador from Booysens Park High School.
Beyond the school environment, Community Action Team members expanded the programme into local communities. Parent forums and community dialogues on positive parenting in Zwide and Booysens Park, were initiated in February. To date, forty parents have already participated, with further engagements continuing into the rest of the year. “The parent forums are opening new conversations about positive parenting in our communities,” Octavia Minto, a CAT member, reflected on the sessions.
From the 9th to the 11th of March, the project hosted an donor visit where KNH teams from Brazil and Germany joined local stakeholders to get a sense of the impact of the project at implementation sites. During the visit, stakeholders including the Department of Social Development, SAPS, traditional leaders and youth ambassadors engaged directly with donors. These interactions provided a platform for sharing experiences, strengthening partnerships, and offering first-hand insight into the programme’s implementation and impact within the community. The project continues to strengthen the rights of children and youth by protection against sexual and gender-based violence and promoting advocacy in communities.
