Thursday: 28 August 2003

This site will be updated on: 5 September  2003 at 17:00

Youth - Jeug

• Youth reaching out to youth
• The sky is the limit
• Expo vir die jeug

Stellenbosch, realised that there is a huge problem, because the HIV/AIDS Epidemic has seriously become an HIV/Aids pandemic.

"Lately the government has been doing a lot of HIV/Aids awareness campaigning and advertising, but those who don't know their status and don't know that they are infected, aren't taking responsibility for the disease.

"That's when we decided to do our bit for our town in its struggle against this dreaded, but misunderstood disease, Aids.

"We started looking for a way to help, to contribute. There weren't many projects running and decided to start our own. And what more appropriate place to start than with our youth, and high schools in Paarl?"

They have decided to target two schools specifically: New Orleans and Klein Nederburg.

The Paarl Haven Night Shelter also gave them their full support and backing and the shelter will be included in future programmes.

"We ended up contracting a Stellenbosch based group, 'Stellenbosch Aids Action', to present a workshop to the two schools.

"As numbers were a problem we chose twenty learners, ten from each school, four from each grade, to attend the workshop.

"The workshop was a huge success and is seen as the launch of a long term project that will hopefully reach thousands of high school learners in Paarl, and eventually the rest of the province and country."

A GROUP of Americans from churches in Chicago, Cleveland and Columbus in the USA visited Nederburg Primary in Paarl recently. The leader is Scott Oberle from the Peace Memorial Church in Chicago.

It was part of a two week visit to South Africa to work with Deon Kitching and the ministries of the YouthNet organisation.

The group came from a diverse career background, comprising teachers, computer technicians, social workers, youth ministers, nurses, college students, musicians and more.

They use their knowledge to work in several areas of the school including teaching computer classes to help both teachers and students, improving the library, creating a new sick room for the children which will be called the "Healing Hut" building, playground additions and more.

The children performed dances, songs and dramas for the group and the Americans also spent time in the classrooms.

"We have really enjoyed spending time with the children and are very impressed with the school, teachers, children and especially the principal, Mr Edward Daniels," said Tammy Zimmerman and Cathy Roderick, two of the visitors.

"He encourages and motivates the children to know the 'sky is the limit' and that they can achieve any dreams they may have."

Die Stellenbosch Universiteit is vanjaar die hoofborg en die streekuitstalling Maties Expo vir Jong Wetenskaplikes op 29 Augustus in die DF Malansentrum. Die room van die leerders in die Wes-Kaap sal die jaarlikse Expo-streekuitstalling bywoon.

Ongeveer 200 leerders sal hulle navorsingsprojekte aan beoordelaars en ander belangstellendes uitstal. Goud, silwer en brons medaljes word aan die beste projekte toegeken. 

Die 12 uitstaande projekte sal gekies word om aan die nasionale Expo in Pretoria deel te neem.

Verlede jaar se wenners het Suid-Afrika in Julie by die twee-jaarlikse Expo Science Internationale in Moskou verteenwoordig.

Die hoofspreker van die dag is dr Danie Barry, senior lektor in Veekundige Wetenskappe aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch, wat kom vertel wat intussen gebeur het met die muis- en skaapeierselletjies wat saam met Mark Shuttleworth ruimte toe gestuur is.

Vir meer inligting, kontak Erika Hoffman by 808-2936.