THE ORGANSATION:
The Cape Town based Non Profit Organization (N.P.O.) was founded by community leader and social development fieldworker John D. Philmon. For the past 10 (ten) years the organization are involved with feeding projects, job creation programs, rehabilitation, shelter placements, family re-unifications, re-integrations etc. of homeless children, youth and adults who live on the streets of the Cape Town CBD and surrounding communities.

THE MISSION:
Y.S.A endeavours to bring about social change through sustainable development and the empowerment of our previously disadvantaged youth and children. We have a mandate to facilitate positive change in society by giving marginalized children and youth hope for a brighter future.

THE CONCEPT:
The management and fieldworkers of Y.S.A. have many years experience in working on the streets and some of them are former street kids who turned their backs on the street life and have been reintegrated into main stream society as positive and productive youth icons. Y.S.A. takes a holistic approach to sustainable community development by networking with other organizations and service providers “It takes a village to raise a child”

ACHIEVEMENTS:
Y.S.A has taken 9 (nine) hardened street boys,
5 (five) young mothers with babies and
14 (fourteen) adult men and women off the streets during 2007/2008 and provide a continuous support structure for them.
4 (four) Homeless street girls were placed in an academy of learning program.
6 (six) hardened street boys are currently in a 1 (one) year rehabilitation program.
We have completed 3 (three) major HIV/AIDS programs for street people during 2008.
We have 18 (eighteen) underprivileged street youths lined up for skills training and job creation program for 2009.
28 (twenty eight) people in job placements with a service provider in the city.
The fieldworkers of Y.S.A. are working both on the city streets and in the communities.
We are currently in the process of completing the building for our Early Childhood Education and Feeding Projects in a township in Olieboom Road, Phillipi.

We are also working closely with SAPS Social Crime Department, Displaced People’s Unit, CCID (Central City Improvement District), Western Cape Street Children’s Forum, Street People’s Forum, Social Worker’s at Home of Hope, ACVV , Department of Social Development, Chrysalis Academy and other education and rehabilitation projects.

THE FUTURE:
Approximately 6000 (six thousand) children are orphaned in South Africa everyday. It is the vision of Y.S.A. to establish a halfway house for boys as well as for girls as a “STEPPING STONE” to serve as a brighter future for them (not a permanent home depending on the needs of the individual). This institution will be used to provide a place of safety for when the individual wants to make a positive change, to provide inner healing and preparing them for development programs.

This will be a place where they will find LOVE, CARE, UNDERSTANDING and MOTIVATION.

For further information, contact us:
J.D. Philmon
Cell: 0822597469
Fax: 0866579830

47 Commericial Street
Cape Town
8001
South Africa

E-Mail: africanheart2@yahoo.com