CROSSROADS TEEN CENTRE PROFILE
Background / In an attempt to address the concerns of teenagers in the RichardsBay/ Empangeni area of KwaZuluNatal, South Africa, the EmpangeniMethodistChurchand Christian Social Services implementeda research study,TEENS TALK 2007, in the latter part of 2007. The research study was aimed at determining the social, emotional, spiritual and physical well-being of urban teenagers who are schooling in the area. It was conducted in eight high schools and included 3991 grade eight to grade eleven learners. The schools surveyed were: EmpangeniHigh School, St Catherine’s School, GrantleighSchool, FelixtonCollege, JohnRossCollege, Hoërskool Richardsbaai, RichardsBayChristianSchool and RichardsBaySecondary School. The research results are available on our website From the results of this research study, the TEEN CENTRE PROJECT was launched in late 2008 in an attempt to provide a facility based in Empangeni that would address many of the needs and issues that had emerged from the survey. Crossroads opened its doors to the teenagers of the community in August 2009.
The Centre’s vision for Teens / To see mature high school learners, who are equipped to face this world, empowered to maximise their potential, and confident to lead the way for their peers to experience the same.
Aims & Objectives / To provide focussed recreational, social and educational programmes, projects and activities to the youth in a safe and stable environment based on Christian principles. The purpose of these initiatives is to address the spiritual, social, emotional, physical, creative and educational well-being of each young person.
CROSSROADS TEEN CENTRE DETAILS
Size & Location / The premises are located in Norman Tedder Lane, Empangeni. The 450m² premises consist of a hall that can accommodate approximately 70 people as well as 14 rooms, 3 toilets and a kitchenette. The rooms are used as follows; 2 offices for the manager and assistant respectively; a computer lab; a chill room and tuck shop; a quiet room for studies; 2 craft rooms that also get used for tutorials; 2 games rooms; a library; a storage room; and an office used by an old member of Crossroads who now has his own tuition business.
Target Group / All high school learners schooling in the City of uMhlathuze fall within the target group. Services are focused on high school learners of Old Mill High and Empangeni High School, due to its location, but currently there is a high amount of learners registering that attend former DET schools. Only a third of our members thus reside in Empangeni, with athird of the members living in Ngwelezane and Esikhiwini, and another third living in the surrounding rural areas.
Staffing / In order to professionally address the aims and objectives of Crossroads, a qualified social worker has been employed as a full time centre manager to oversee the day to day running of Crossroads and its various projects, programmes and activities. An Assistant Centre Manager is also employed to assist with the administration and finances of Crossroads.
The centre is furthermore supported by a teen steering committee, an executive committee (board), and volunteers.
Activities / The centre offers four nuclear activities which are available to the teens on a daily basis, namely: a quiet room for studying, a chill room with a tuck-shop where the teens can socialize, a music room for music practice and a computer room for research and projects. Our interventions are divided into 4 main groups; Gr82Gr8ter which focuses on Gr 8 learners, Matrics Uploaded which focuses on the Gr 12 members, Reshape which encourages overall holistic growth, and Me Myself & I, which assists the members with gender related issues.
Essential Relationships / To ensure that Crossroads remains relevant to the teens, a steering committee consisting of teenagers from various local schools has been established. This committee continuously relates to both their respective schools and the teen centre. It is through this committee that the projects, programmes and activities will be evaluated and changes implemented to ensure that the aims and objectives of the centre are achieved.
A teacher from each school has also been selected to represent the school and to ensure the effective cooperation of the centre and the schools in its area.
A further relationship with the churches in the community is also being maintained. Through this networking, teenagers will be encouraged to get involved in local churches in order to meet their spiritual needs.
The community is also involved in the centre through volunteering and sponsorships.
BUSINESS PLAN
Vision for Centre / To develop a safe facility for teenagers where they are the primary focus of operation.
Development & Commitments to Date / As at December 2013, Crossroads Teen Centre has received a total funding of and spent approximatelyR 411465, other donations of goods and equipment have also been received.
Strategy / In order to be self sustainable and a fully autonomous centre, great effort is made to ensure long term funding for the programmes and running expenses of the centre are met through partnerships with the local municipality, businesses, corporations, and churches.
Operating Costs / The centre’s operating costs amount to approximately R30 000 per month. This amount consists of salaries, stationary, maintenance, telephone, etc. with a large portion devoted to project interventions. A more detailed budget is available on request.
Needs / Crossroads needs capital equipment to facilitate the aims and objectives of the centre. The centre’sneeds include; music equipment, a sound system, library books, more chairs and tables, as well as more computers to facilitate the increasing need for this.
The most pressing need is for the centre to partner with organizations that are prepared to fund a portion of the operational costs (specifically the portion relating to the salary of the Social Worker/Centre Manager) of the Centre on a longer term basis. Crossroads is registered as a Non-Profit Organisation as well as a public benefit organisation to offer tax benefits to its sponsors. A debit order system has also been set up to simplify monthly contributions.
Banking Details / Crossroads Teen Centre
Bank: First National Bank
Branch: Empangeni 220130
Account Number: 62257333212
PBO Number: 930033072
NPO Number: 079–949
Time Frame and Status / The centre aims to receive a bulk of its funding through regular donations sourced from medium sized businesses in the surrounding community by the end of 2015.
Crossroads Centre Plan view Layout
CONTACT DETAILS
Crossroads Teen Centre / Office: 035 772 5823
Fax: 086 551 1037
Email:
Desire’ Laatz
Centre Manager / 061087 8077
Karl Rottcher
Executive CommitteeMember / 083638 2544 /035792 3404
Camp GLOW done in 2014in order to promote gender equality, develop leadership skills, improve self-esteem, increase knowledge of women’s health issues, and support aspirations and career goals.
Unit 1 Mdoni House, Norman Tedder Lane Box 69 Empangeni 3880
Tel: 035 772 5823 Fax: 086 551 1037 Email: