Highlights from the Trailblazer Class of 2020
In 2020 we had 312 Trailblazers who were part of the program. Trailblazers came from Limpopo (Blouberg Municipality), Gauteng (Mamelodi, Dobsonville, and Hammaskraal), Free State (Parys, Vredefort, and Viljoenskroon), and Northern Cape (De Aar). These Trailblazers ran 398 Community Action Projects (group and individual) and had a cumulative impact on 12,829 people in their home communities.
How we ran the Program
Due to COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown, we were not able to run the Trailblazer Program as we have run it before – starting with the enke: Forum. Therefore the Program got a full revamp as we design a community-based model focused on local implementation. This started with building a new volunteer facilitator role called the Trailblazer Champion, youth (18-30 years old) from our target communities who received facilitator and youth coaching training through a revamped Ignition Program. The Trailblazer Champions then recruited high school participants in their respective areas working with schools and community organisations. Each area had at least one Chapter (grouping of 25-50 Trailblazers) and the Trailblazer Champions were responsible for these Chapters. For 2020 we had a total of 10 Chapters as follows:
- Free State – 3 Trailblazer Chapters in Parys, Vredefort, Viljoenskroon
- Gauteng – 2 Trailblazer Chapters: Dobsonville, Mamelodi
- Limpopo – 4 Trailblazer Chapters: Makgabeng 1 and 2; and Mphengwa 1 and 2
- Northern Cape – 1 Traiblazer Chapter in De Aar
We redesigned the enke: Forum into a series of weekly workshops which we called the Trailblazer Community Workshops, which were held in the community. The training content was delivered by the Trailblazer Champions, and included online guided sessions with team members at enke HQ.
The Community Workshops were hosted for a month spanning through 4 Saturday training sessions. By the last training workshop, participants had to have completed their Community Action Project (CAP) Plans. For the next 5 months, participants were implementing their CAPs and enke provided support through Trailblazer Champions who are based in the communities. Trailblazer Champions conducted monthly in-person support visits and ensured that the participants had the support, information and coaching they needed to implement their CAPs effectively.
The program concluded with a Celebration Event, where all participants who have been part of the program and implemented CAPs were recognized. The Celebration Events were hosted in their respective provinces and Trailblazers were able to connect to each other via webcam in order to be able to celebrate together as the 2020 Trailblazers. Strict COVID-19 protocols were followed at all of our celebration events.
Thank You for 2020 Trailblazer
We really appreciate the incredible support and generosity of our program partners, who made our work, and that of our program participants, possible in a very difficult and challenging year.
- Funding Partners: Investec, Ponahalo De Beers Trust, and Sibona Ilanga Trust
- Collaborative Partners: Kutlwalong Pro-Maths Centres (Mamelodi, Hammanskraal & Dobsonville), Ramatema High School, Phagamang High School, Kgolouthwane High School, Mphengwa High School, Mabea High School, Mahadikana High School, Kgalushi Secondary School, Moshokoa Secondary School, Nakedi Secondary School, Yakhisizwe Secondary School, Phehellang High School, Barnard Molokoane Comprehensive School, Weiveld Agricultural & Hotel School, Kgabareng Technical Secondary School, Kgolagano Secondary School, Thabang Secondary School, Rehauhetswe Secondary School, SS Paki Secondary School, Boiphihlelo Secondary School, Monwabisi High School and Orion High School
- Trailblazer Champions: Ayanda Khani, Sinesipho Skaal, Palesa Maleme, Tshepo Sechele, Lerato Moloi, Mbuyiselo Moloi, Bukeka Tom, Bertha Mabena, Tintswalo Mashimbyi, Busani Moyo, Helen Galane, Masilo Mathase, Karabo Mphorohleng, William Chokwe, Tlou Boloka, Selaelo Monama, Esmy Koko, Godfrey Manyakwane.
2020 Trailblazers’ Stories of Impact
Below we have shared the stories of a few Community Action Projects as snapshots of the amazing work that has taken place over the last 6 months. There are so many stories and actions that we are proud of, but unfortunately we cannot capture and print all of them as it would be a much bigger book than we can print.
We are proud of all our Trailblazers – all their efforts, the lessons and skills learned as they did their best to tackle the issues that affected their communities.
Teens With Vision: Neo Cholo and Letlhogonolo Phora
School: Ribane Laka High School
Province: Gauteng
Community Action Project Issue: Poverty and Social Development
Neo Cholo and Letlhogonolo are Trailblazers from Ribane Laka High School in Mamelodi East. They have highlighted that their experience in the Trailblazer Program has been great. Being part of the Program has motivated them to see young people as part of the change in their communities. One of the critical lessons that they learned from being in the Program is that we all need to contribute as human beings to bring the desired change in our communities. They now believe that it doesn’t matter where one comes from but their perspective towards life and how they influence change. Before being part of the Trailblazer Program, they believed that teachers and the government are the people who have to develop and bring change to the community. But being a Trailblazer has totally shifted their mindset.
Through the Trailblazer Program, Neo and Letlhogonolo’s perspective on what young people can do in their communities changed. They now believe in the power of young people, as they have seen how the ideas they shared during the workshops have contributed to more significant ideas and projects. Their passion for community development was ignited by being part of the enke Trailblazer program. This also encouraged them to motivate their peers to sign up because they felt the Program brought a significant change in their lives. Neo highlighted that he feels he has been equipped with essential skills to be a leader and bring about the much-needed change in his community. These skills include communication, identifying social capital, and starting and mobilising resources for a social project.
Neo and Letlhogonolo’s Community Action Project (CAP) was called “TEENS WITH VISION” and focused on community development. The CAP tackled poverty and other social ills that have been exacerbated by COVID-19 (such as people not having access to basic needs). The CAP aims to create a platform where young people can develop themselves and, in return, contribute to the development of their community. The “TEENS WITH VISION” project has benefited 150 people since it started through donating sanitary towels, face masks, sanitisers and food. Neo and Letlhogonolo hope to reach out to more Trailblazers and other young people in their school to join them in continuing their project. They, as young people, can contribute to bringing change.
Future Stars: De Aar Chapter Trailblazers
Trailblazer(s): Thandokazi September, Asisipho Bay, Zimi Qina, Intle Thiphe, Lebohang Masum, Imange Fiki, Lwanele Menziwa, Katleho Mokabo, Buhle Natu, Khulani Ntsomi.
Partner: Monwabisi High School
Province: Northern Cape
Community Issue: School development
This group of Trailblazers from the De Aar Chapter came together after the Trailblazer Workshops and decided to work together and start a Community Action Project to address academic performance at their school. The “Future Stars” Trailblazers work together with the teachers and the community to improve the school pass rate and learner outcomes. The Future Stars, through the Trailblazer Program, were inspired and motivated to focus on personal development. They did not want to leave their peers behind and created a tutoring project to ensure that every learner at their school will pass. They hope that all learners can become stars in their school and their community through their CAP.
The Future Stars Project focused on providing tutoring sessions for Grade 9 & 10 learners (identified as poorer performing grades). This group of Trailblazers has collected donations from the community of resources such as textbooks and stationery to ensure that learners can learn effectively. They have also worked with teachers to organise extra classes for learners who are struggling academically. They hope that learners will improve their grades through their project, and their school will produce better results.
Through the CAP, they have managed to change the learning culture at their school, where only a few learners had a positive mindset towards education. With the tutoring classes, learners have become more positive towards learning. The Future Stars sessions have become a safe space where learners can assist each other with subjects and projects they struggle with. Through the CAP 70, learners have benefitted; they attend twice a week working on the core subjects and languages. The Future Stars tutoring project is supported by teachers at the school as they see the leadership role taken by the learners and how the tutoring project is benefiting the school as a whole.
Internal Light: Mmakgauta Mohlabeng and Moloko Sekgolwane
School: Mabea High School
Location: Limpopo
CAP Issue: Teenage Pregnancy
Mmakgauta and Moloko have decided to work together to address an issue in their community that they’re both concerned about, Teenage pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is one of the social issues that youth are challenged with. Mmakgauta and Moloko decided to address the negative impact that teenage pregnancy has on the young people in their community. And this because they have seen young girls having to drop out of school and not get an education.
From the Trailblazer workshops and the support received in the Program, they embarked on a journey that would impact their community and themselves by starting their CAP “Internal Light”. Mmakgauta refers to the Trailblazer Program as one of the most exciting experiences in her life. It has transformed her and ignited her dreams and dreams of all the young people in her community. She asserted that there are so many things that a young person can learn from the Trailblazer Program, from self-development to how to be an active member of your community. Being part of the Program has motivated them to value and believe in themselves, build self-confidence, and positively approach their future. Moloko shares: “I had a lack of confidence and was always overcome by fear when it comes to achieving my dreams, but now I have become a more confident person with a lot of expectations and hope for the future.”
Mmakgauta and Moloko particularly enjoyed the interactive and hands-on way that workshops were delivered and the different fun activities. Trailblazer Workshops were a space to learn and grow while contributing to the growth of their communities. One of the activities that stood out for them was the Experiential Learning Model and building peer-to-peer connections, and learning how they can build each other and their community.
Mmakgauta and Moloko, through their CAP, have invited local nurses to the schools in their community to educate their peers about teenage pregnancy and how it can be prevented. They have held this kind of session in two schools. The session included both girls and boys as sex education and teenage pregnancy affect both girls and boys. The Internal Light Project also created a platform for youth to advocate against other issues that contribute towards teenage pregnancy (such as drug abuse, poverty and lack of information). These are issues that have been highlighted by the learners through the platform. To date, more than 200 learners from Mabea High School and Kgalashu Secondary School have benefitted from the Internal Light project, attending the sessions with the local nurses. Due to the impact, they have seen in the project, these Trailblazers aim to continue the Internal Light project and keep creating impact and changing their community. They will get more Trailblazers to participate in the project and involve other learners from other schools in their community. The impact is not only on a few schools but also on the whole community.
Siyasebenza Donation Project: Parys Chapter Trailblazers
Trailblazer(s): Parys Chapter
School: Phehellang High School, Weiveld High School, Yakhisizwe Secondary school and Bernard Molokwane High School
Province: Free State
CAP Issue: Community Development
Trailblazers from the Parys Chapter decided to form a group project and address a community issue that they all agreed on and maximise resources since the project was started during Covid-19. The group consists of Trailblazers from 4 different high schools (Phehellang High school, Weiveld Agriculture and Hotel School, Yakhisizwe Secondary School and Bernard Molokwane High School) located in Parys and around the Tumahole Township. Members of this dynamic group pointed out that what was most exciting about the Program was the different workshops and how these workshops have sparked creativity amongst the group members. Above everything, the activities allowed them to unite and tackle issues in their community together. Through their CAP implementation, the group has learned how to communicate better, deal with group dynamics, and do project management. They have become more aware of issues that the youth in their community face and are working together to develop solutions for these challenges.
The core principles that formed the foundation of this group of young people is Ubuntu, trust and honesty. One key element highlighted by the group members was that the perspective of the whole group changed as they attended the weekly workshops. Members started to commit to change and stayed disciplined so that the group could achieve its goal. At first, the Trailblazers had different ideas on tackling issues in their community at the beginning of the Program. But, towards the end, they realised they all had the same goal: to help people in need, and that’s how the group CAP was formed. What attracted this group of young people to the Trailblazer Program was their desire to learn and contribute to changing their lives and the lives of others in their communities.
The Trailblazers started the “Siyasebenza” donation drive project, where they collect clothes and food and donate to people in need. The CAP was motivated by the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic had on many families in the area, worsening the unemployment and food securities in many communities. The group has donated clothes and food to 22 families around the Tumahole township, Sisulu Informal settlement, and school uniform at Aha Sechaba Primary School and Phehellang High School. The group is continuing to collect more clothes and food as they identify more families that need help. This has been inspired by their ability to offer a helping hand in their community.
