An evaluation of the Masupa-Tsela Youth Pioneers Program implemented by the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development and Special Programs within Mhlontlo Local Municipality

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since the advent of democracy in South Africa, the government has prioritized youth development in thecountry. The strides made by government include setting up institutional arrangements, developingpolicies and implementing programmes targeting young people in the country. However, despite theefforts made to develop young people, the youth transition to adulthood is still extremely difficult, moreespecially for unemployed black females who reside in rural areas. Youth unemployment is the biggestproblem affecting the youth in South Africa and globally, and the majority of the unemployed youth havebeen categorised as 'Not in Education, Employment or Training' (NEET). Being unemployed and also notbeing in education or training to prepare for future employment, limits future employability of the NEETs.The Department of Social Development and Special Programmes in the Eastern Cape Provinceimplemented the Masupa-Tsela Youth Pioneers Programme (MYPP) to intervene in the high rate of youthunemployment in the Province. The programme in the Province was never evaluated and as a resultthere is no evidence of the success or failure of this youth programme.This study evaluates the implementation of the MYPP with a particular focus in Mhlontlo LocalMunicipality within O.R. Tambo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province. Mhlontlo LocalMunicipality is a rural municipality characterized by high youth unemployment, high youth poverty, lowlevels of education among youth and low literacy levels among adults. The purpose of the study was toexplore and discover whether the intended outcomes of the MYPP were achieved and what the specificchallenges of the youth were.Evaluation research is used in this study to explore the MYPP. Evaluation research assesses theconceptualization, implementation, and impact of development programmes and projects. The datacollected during this study through focus groups, interviews, questionnaires, and document review,revealed that the programme mostly achieved its intended outcomes, although there are areas that needto be improved in the future implementation of the programme. However, the goals and outcomes of theMYPP were not adequate to address the size of the challenge. On the basis of the findings of this studythe researcher recommends that youth development programmes should be implemented in the contextof sustainable development and young people must be placed at the centre of that development asagents of change in their communities. The researcher also recommends outcomes based planning in theDepartment, up-scaling of the programme, regular evaluation of the design, implementation and results ofa youth programme as well as improved participation of the youth in the programmes designed toimprove their lives.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University