SOWETo KLIPTOWN  YOUTH

Founded in 1987 by then sixteen-year-old Bob Nameng, Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) provides hope and services to some of the most neglected children in South Africa through formal and informal programs to support children and teens.  As a non-profit organization and one of the oldest surviving youth centers in Soweto, SKY aims to serve the mental and physical needs of the youth of Kliptown, a suburb of the former black township of Soweto in Gauteng, South Africa.  Originally located at the two-roomed home of Bob’s aunt, SKY originated as an after-school program for neighborhood children who came to the center for choir sessions.  As the numbers increased, attention became focused on matters that impacted the daily lives of the children while adding drawing and reading to the program.  Activities were later expanded to include performance arts, support groups, and empowerment and life skills classes for girls, in addition to sports such as soccer, basketball, and cricket to teach the children assertiveness and confidence.  The organization has a strong relationship with the community and its surrounding areas and maintains a presence in order to address the challenges faced by the community in general.  The presence in the community provides the opportunity to maintain strong links at all times.  The results are obvious.  The minute you enter the community, the children are joyful and warm despite the many hardships they face every day.  They have pride, energy, and talent, and they abundantly share it with others.  Through SKY’s programs and services, they have a chance to make it.

The CEO of SKY Foundation has a vision of expanding SKY to other areas.  At present, SKY has satellites in four provinces: Kwazulu-natal, Durban Free State - Welkom , Eastern Cape- Thundergate and North-West Mafikeng.