SOUTH AFRICA: Students supported with mental health services
Salesian Institute Youth Projects changes lives of vulnerable youth
SOUTH AFRICA
(MissionNewswire) Salesian Institute Youth Projects, located in Cape Town, South Africa, provides skills training and education for youth, along with psychosocial support to help ensure youth finish school. Through this approach, every young person attending Salesian programs receives the support needed to overcome and cope with challenges, whether they stem from socio-economic hardships or psychosocial struggles.
A Salesian explained, “The last couple of years have vividly illustrated the need for increased psychosocial support for students as most of them have faced significant disruptions to their education and personal lives, creating barriers to their future aspirations. Recognizing this, we have made a concerted effort to ensure that students not only continue their education and training but also build the social and emotional resilience necessary for success in both the classroom and the workplace.”
In 2023, Salesian Institute Youth Projects made a significant advancement by launching a Wellness Center that is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals. Through strategic partnerships with institutions like the South African College of Applied Psychology and the University of Cape Town, the school provides hands-on experience for final-year students in occupational therapy, social studies, and psychology. These students complete part of their practical training at the center while offering personalized support to other students.
The Wellness Center offers a range of services, including one-on-one counseling and psychosocial workshops. The center benefits from on-site, full-time qualified registered counselors, occupational therapists and a social worker as part of its team.
Gabriel Hamuy, head of the center, explained “The impact of the Wellness Center on our students has been immeasurable. By offering work readiness and integration programs, as well as psychosocial support, the center helps young people build the necessary social skills to navigate both academic settings and professional environments with more confidence. These services ensure that they are not just surviving but thriving, equipped with the tools to manage stress, build positive relationships and maintain a hopeful outlook on their futures. We believe that by addressing the psychosocial needs of our youth, we empower them to unlock their potential and achieve sustainable success in all areas of life.”
Salesian Institute Youth Projects has been providing education, emotional support and skills development training for at-risk youth in Cape Town since 1910. The institute has been instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of at-risk and vulnerable youth who would otherwise not have been able to access the job market.
Poverty is extensive in South Africa with more than half the population and more than 63% of children living below the poverty line, according to UNICEF. A significant percentage of the population struggles to survive on less than $1 a day. The country is plagued by high crime rates and violence against women and girls, and it has been the hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS crisis in the world. There is an urgent need for education to help prevent the spread of the deadly virus and to help lift youth out of poverty.
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Salesian Missions – South Africa
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