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CONTACT ADDRESS: BOX 88378

NEWCLARE
SOUTH AFRICA
2112

CONTACT PERSON: MR. GLEN STEYN

TELEPHONE: +27 11 473 1651

FACSIMILE: +27 86 688 9303

WEBSITE: www.conquest.org.za

EMAIL: info@conquest.org.za

REGISTRATION DETAILS

1. Association not for Gain


- # 1996/00027/08
2. Not for Profit Organisation
- # 005-415
3. Public Benefits Organization
- #RG/0243/08/04
4. Section 18A Status
- # 930 003 994

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MISSION STATEMENT

“To be a self-sustaining youth organisation, run by young


people, empowered to become agents of change by
developing their identity, self worth, and a sense of
community.”

OBJECTIVES

• Developing a Sense of Self


Young people in South Africa need time, space and a
safe environment in which to pursue alternatives to their
current lifestyles. Conquest For Life has created and
established this environment through a number of projects
which give young people a variety of opportunities to
redefine themselves from a minus to a plus; a failure to
success and from a nobody to somebody.
• Strengthening Family Structures
One of the main problems in the townships is the lack of
family values and poor family structures and environments.
Single parent families headed by the mother are
common, leaving young men without positive male role
models. For every project Conquest For Life has
incorporated a family/parent component (e.g. workshops,
computer courses, volunteering) as a way of addressing
this problem.
• Strengthening Community Structures
Conquest For Life is attempting to open up and strengthen
dialogue between the child/young person, parent,
community institutions (e.g. schools, community centres)
and the wider community to ensure a holistic and
sustainable approach to addressing community concerns.
• Youth Development & Empowerment
The majority of staff came to Conquest For Life through
participating in youth camps or after school activities and
are therefore well placed to relate to other beneficiaries.

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History of Conquest for Life

Conquest For Life was established in 1995 in Westbury, a


township 8km west of Johannesburg. A group of young
people came together to initiate innovate approaches to
complex problems facing their community and, in doing so,
make a difference in the lives of their family and friends. The
Organisation has expanded its Westbury facilities by opening
four new branches in other disadvantaged communities, i.e.,
the communities of Soweto, Ennerdale, Orange Farm and
Platfontein in the Northern Cape. These dynamic
communities have been crippled after many years of
apartheid, discrimination, and poverty. It is evident that
although the young people of these varied communities
represent different cultural backgrounds, the disparities are
prevalent cross-culturally. Many have not had positive
relationships with productive, supportive role models.

They lack the exposure and the vision to believe that positive
change can happen in their lives. Many fall prey to a life of
crime or to a generational cycle of poverty and
despondency. Anger and frustration are released anti-
socially through random acts of violence, gang affiliation,
crime, drug, and alcohol abuse. Many of the young people
have difficulty adjusting to school and drop out before
matriculation. As a result they lack the life skills needed to
adjust to structured environments and to develop positive
relationships.

Conquest For Life aims to empower the youth through a


myriad of programs designed to produce a safe and
structured environment in which the youth can realize their
potential and have access to the life skills needed to enrich
their lives. Our target group includes unemployed, out of
school youth, youth in conflict with the law, parents, and
people in the community interested in mentoring. Conquest
For Life started in a dynamic, predominantly coloured
community, it is characterized by an unemployment rate of
over 80%, a very high school dropout rate, extreme family
stress, poverty, very limited recreational facilities and

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substance abuse. The following is a reflection of most of the
townships in South Africa. The severe lack of extra-curricular
and recreational activities, mean that children and young
people spend a lot of time on the streets ‘bloming’
(loafing/hanging around) or sitting in crammed flats.

The youth form the largest percentage with 40% of the


population being younger than 18 years (1996 Census data).
Living conditions are poor and even worse in the informal
settlements with very high residential densities. Housing is
basic with many people staying in self-constructed dwelling
units made from corrugated iron, wood or clay, with very few
brick houses visible. Due to the remoteness of the area,
income levels are very low and indicative of the high levels
of poverty and dependency rate within the community. 50%
of the population have no income and approximately 62%
earn less than R1, 500 per month.

This indicates that the majority of people live below


breadline. Most people are employed in elementary
occupations or as craft and trade related workers, which is
also indicative of the low levels of education and skills
development Despite representing South Africa’s present
and future, children and young people also feel helpless in
coping with the complex issues faced in their communities.
They have few options other than a life of gangsterism and
drugs (through dealing and substance abuse).

Conquest For Life believes that ‘bad kids’ are not born they
are made, which means they can remade. As violence,
bad manners and gangsterism are learned; so can good
self-presentation, love and peaceful ways of resolving
conflict.

Successes of Conquest For Life:


In October 1995 in Westbury, a group of young people came
together to initiate innovative approaches to complex
problems facing their community and, in doing so, to make a
difference in the lives of their friends, families, neighbours and
community members. This was achieved through outreach

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to schools (including placing members of the community in
primary and high schools in response to the school crisis) and
running a range of after-school activities.

In 1996, Conquest For Life moved into their local offices in


Newclare. Community links were strengthened and
validated by a community survey in April 1997. The survey
secured grassroots participation in identifying problems,
decision-making and project design. The results of the survey
illustrated that Conquest For Life had gained the respect and
encouragement of the community, which provided the
impetus to roll out activities such as youth at risk camps,
youth enrichment work and facilitating peace processes.

During 1998 Conquest For Life moved to new larger premises


in Price Street and since then, has been able to develop a
computer-training centre, victim offender conferencing and
counselling work. In 1999 an independent evaluation was
conducted on the impact of the In and Out Youth
Development Project - Youth At Risk to see the impact of the
project. During the evaluation it was clear to that the YAR
Project is having a profound impact on the young people at
risk.

In 2000 ‘Dreamlands’ in De-Deur-Vereenigeng was bought.


This farm has being developed as a residential centre. In
addition, McKinsey International produced a feasibility study
on the replication of the Conquest For Life model of working
with youth at risk. In 2001 Conquest For Life signed an offer to
purchase its current Head Office building. The organisation
further expanded its work to the San People in Platfontein,
Northern Cape. Positive relations were forged with the
youth. An office is currently managed by the youth from that
community.

During 2002 Conquest For Life opened an office in Ennerdale


and runs four projects in that area. The same year CFL
formed a partnership with the Johannesburg City Council
Region 11 and acquires bigger premises in Ennerdale. Plans
for the Soweto office was already on the way since 2002 but

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in 2003 Conquest For Life opened its offices at the
Bridgement Center in Zola. From the centre CFL ran three
projects. During the same year CFL have also applied with
SARS for approval in terms of section 10 and 18A. In the same
year Conquest For Life paid of it’s Head Office and bought a
house in Creswill Park, Roodepoort to accommodate it’s
ever growing International Volunteers.

During 2004, CFL moved to a bigger space in Meadowlands,


Soweto. Plans are also under way to open another office in
Soweto. Late the same year we opened another office in
Orange and there are only four projects that are being run in
Orange Farm. Conquest For Life is also in the process of
looking at the East Rand and we in the process of
developing a plan for 2010. During Human Rights month, CFL
launched its Reathusana Child Youth Justice Project where
we work with over 1500 young people in Prison. In the same
year CFL received approval from SARS as a public Benefits
Organisation and it has Section 18A status. Conquest For Life
started the proceedings to transfer the Head Office onto its
name.

In 2005 Conquest For Life increased the number of schools,


children, youth, parents and programs. The organisation also
signed an offer to a camping site in Magaliesburg. Conquest
For Life work with over 40 000 children and youth per month.
During the same year, Conquest For Life purchased a house
in Ennerdale to run its operation from there. The organisation
has experienced many problems with the local politicians
and council officials and at times they have made the
environment not conducive for development.

In early 2006, Conquest For Life moved into the house in


Ennerdale, Ext 9 and runs all projects from the house. After
moving into the Ennerdale property, the organisation than
evaluated it’s strategies and decided to do the same in all
the other areas of operation. Having their property will allow
the organisation to focus on it’s identity, branding and work
on its long term strategy – “Conquest For Life must be a
household name through out South Africa.” The same year,

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the organisation rented a house in Orange Farm and signed
an offer to purchase a property in Soweto. During the year,
Conquest For Life explored the idea of opening an operation
in the UK and in the USA. The Organisation also won an
award from the Gordon Institute of Business Science –
University of Pretoria for Social Entrepreneur on the Brink. The
organisation was also featured in various news paper articles
including three books – “ Charting progress, mapping the
future- Ann Skelton and Mike Batley”, “Kaelo stories of hope
2006” and “From Diamonds to Dust – Stories of Social
Entrepreneurship” by the Gordon Institute Of Social Business
Science – Colloquium for social Entrepreneurs

In 2007, we moved into a house in Soweto and use it as a


office. We are running almost all the projects in
Meadowlands Zone 9, Soweto. The office is allowing us to
create our own identity and brand. Later the same year we
acquire another house in Reiger Park on the East Rand.
Conquest For Life have also featured in two programs on
television this year – The Learning Channel and Its my Life on
SABC 1. The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
have selected Glen Steyn as one of ten semi-finalists for the
Social Entrepreneur Award 2007 in South Africa. Through the
award, The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship
and Ernst & Young seek to recognize and encourage the
spirit of social entrepreneurship. In June 2007, Kaelo shoot a
DVD on Conquest For Life and it was screened on SABC 1.

In 2008 plans were put in place to build a plan for Conquest


For Life to become less and less dependant on outside
funding. During the same year Conquest For Life became a
semi finalist of the Mail and Gaurdian Newspaper - Investing
in the Future awards. During the recession that hit the world
from 2008, Conquest For Life managed to survive the storm.

In 2009 with the recession now reaching the shares of South


Africa, Conquest For Life embarked on a mission to move to
a bigger premises. The organisation signed an offer to
purchase a much bigger premises from the Anglican Church
with the idea to implement social enterprises and to create a

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vehicle for the organisation to become self reliant. Due to
the econonimical climate and scarcity of funds, the
organisation decided to put three of its properties on the
market to finance the deal.

Currently we move moved our Orange Farm office to a


better more secure facility that will allow the Orange Farm
office to function professionally.

Web Site: www.conquest.org.za


Tel: +27 11 (0) 473 – 1651 H/Office
E - mail: info@conquest.org.za
Fax: +27 (0) 86 688 – 9303

PROJECTS

Currently, our projects include: Youth At Risk- Building Bridges


Diversion Project, Youth Enrichment Programme-Just For Kids
& Aftercare, Reathusana Youth Child Justice Project,
Computer Training Centre, and Victim- Offender
Conferencing.

Youth Enrichment Project - The purpose of the Youth


Enrichment Project (YEP) is to empower school aged children
aged 5-16. We try to support youth in their learning at school
and help improve their academic performance. Our services
include the provision of a safe after-school environment for
children; holiday camps; and teaching peace-making skills
through games with regular school visits.

Just For Kids Peace Games -The Just For Kids (JFK) Peace
Games brings children from conflicting cultures together
through cooperative play to promote a positive relationship
among people who have a history of intercultural tension. By
bringing children together from unique backgrounds, values,
and beliefs through the seemingly simple act of play, seeds
of compassion are sown for a more peaceful today and
tomorrow.

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In and Out (Youth At Risk) Project - The purpose of the 3-
Week Life Skills Camp is to educate and teach out of work,
out of school youth in life skills through a holistic program of
lessons and activities in an intensive three-week camp setting
where they are not influenced by the problems and
troublesome environment of their communities.

Building Bridges Diversion - Youths at risk may be sent to us


via the RAR Centre, Community, School or the local courts.
They enter a two month life skills programme at CFL and
progress is monitored throughout. The project runs on
weekday afternoons and is split into two segments. Topics
covered include communication skills, conflict management
and resolution, positive self image and attitude etc. and
youth work in groups. The program also includes community
service with the idea to give back to the community. At the
end of the programme, CFL staff send a report to the court
for feedback on progress.

Young Mothers’ Project - Many young ladies get involved


with gangsterism and crime and loose their self-respect.
Once they have children, these young women feel it is the
end of the world. The YMP covers all issues that relates to
Maintenance, Life Skills, HIV/AIDS, etc. Young Mothers
Project also provides mothers with the opportunity to be
involved with vocational training

Victim Offender Conferencing - Victim Offender


Conferencing (VOC) Project is a creative, community based
and Restorative Justice Project dealing with human issues of
crime through a face-to-face interaction between the
offender(s), their respective families and to some extent
appointed support persons from the community. The process
is guided by highly skilled community mediators/facilitators
and together we to try and reach common ground and
resolve situations out of court.

Reathusana Child Justice Project - The Reathusana Child


Youth Justice Project is part of Conquest For Life’s Youth At
Risk Project. The project targets awaiting trail young

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offenders under the age 18 and aims at rehabilitating young
people while incarcerated. The is designed to monitor and
further develop young peoples’ character and change their
mindsets through a variety of programs, which will be
delivered by trained enthusiastic young people from
Conquest For Life.

Computer Training Centre - The CTC consists of two


programmes; office computer training and parent &
community programme with plans to develop two additional
programmes; technical support and internet development.
Together, these four programmes help improve computer
literacy, job search skills and employability amongst
disaffected young people from surrounding communities
and their parents.

Job Creation Project - Addressing severe unemployment in


Westbury through offering up legitimate alternatives to crime
and gangsterism.

Men For Life - Men For Life was established in October 2003
with the goal of working alongside the men in Westbury
to create a better environment for themselves, their family
and the community.

My Fathers House - At Conquest For Life it is our aim to


establish a fully functional HIV/ AIDS Orphanage program
called, “My Fathers House Initiative" run by young men to
address the issue from a men's point of view. We strongly
believe that young men must take responsibility for their own
actions and at the same time be encouraged to enrich their
own lives through education and self- empowerment. In
order to encourage the full participant of the Westbury
community and impact the attitude of young people about
HIV/ AIDS, Conquest For Life has developed an Initiative
project that will focus on engaging the youth to take action
in the face of HIV/ AIDS.

Siyasizana Project - The Siyasizana Project is a project of


Conquest for Life that focuses on the arts and culture and

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targets children and youth in the community. "Siyasizana" is
zulu word and it means “we helping each other". These
young people are at risk of getting involved in gangsterism,
drug abuse, in trouble with the law and those that are
developing social problems at school. We also target young
from community that would like to make a change in their
life. The project consist of 6 programmes; Arts and Culture,
Poetry, Drama, Arts Livity, Mentorship Programme, Parent
and Community Participation.

Exchange Programme - Exchanges are run with youths in


Northern Ireland and USA, and we are always looking for
new opportunities! Exchanges between countries run on
alternate years. Lessons are applied to our communities and
youth.

PARTNERS
ORGANIZATION CONTACT PERSON CONTACT NUMBER
Coronationville Mrs. Bothma Kerspuy 011 673 5220
Training Centre
St Nicholas Home Maria Sandowns 011 477 2552
CRED Valda 021 447 1995
Life Line Maria Sandows 011 477 2552
RAR Centre Daphine Naidoo 011 832 1459
Dpt of Social Desire Carlinski 011 355 7724
Development
CSVR Amanda Dissel 011 403 6750
NB: This list is not exhaustive of all our partners

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