Executive Summary
SAHAC (now Courage Youth) is a proven transformative youth empowerment program
South Africa is a nation rich in culture, diversity and potential, where young people courageously led a positive change in redressing the injustices of the past, resulting in a democratic dispensation. However, beneath this surface of courage lies complex challenges young people face, including economic disparities, inadequate access to quality education, a high unemployment rate, violence and social inequality. While Governments and businesses are making great strides in addressing the issues threatening the future of the youth in South Africa, there is a great need to work collectively towards empowering young people to overcome these challenges and contribute positively towards a better future. The Southern Africa HIV-AIDS Collaboration (SAHAC) is a proven transformative youth empowerment program operating in six public Secondary Schools in Soweto. SAHAC was founded in 2006 with the aim to develop and scale a robust character development Youth Program to empower young people to advance their lives and alleviate social challenges such as teenage pregnancies, substance abuse, and abusive/violent behaviour. Operating under the program name Courage Youth Movement (CYM), the initiative has been successful in changing the destiny of young people at schools by equipping them with skills to thrive in all aspects of life. Since the inception of the Program, there has been evident improvement in CYM members’ lifestyles, the choices they make, improved academic performance and solid spiritual grounding. While the program has proven consistently effective in fomenting life change, there is a greater need to expand the Youth Program beyond the current six-school footprint. To this end, SAHAC seeks to form enduring multi-dimensional business partnerships for financial support to scale the CYM program in Soweto high schools and beyond.
Why SAHAC/Courage Youth Exists
Courage Youth (previously Southern Africa HIV/Aids Collaboration (SAHAC)) is a collaboration of South African and North American not-for-profits, churches, schools, and government departments with the shared goal of playing a meaningful role in the reduction of HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, abusive/violent behaviour, and drug/alcohol abuse among South African youth through a robust character development program.
OUR MISSION
To train, mentor and equip ‘Courageous Youth’ to thrive in all aspects of life: spiritual, emotional, physical, social, academic, and economic.
OUR VISION
To change the destiny of the youth of South Africa from the current reality of poverty, abuse, addiction, violence, and HIV to one of hope and the expectation of spiritual, emotional, physical, social, academic and economic health.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
To assist young people in developing life skills and belief systems to make them resistant to premature sexual activity, alcohol/drug abuse, and abusive/violent behaviour.
To equip and prepare youth for a life of work and service to others.
To encourage youth peer-to-peer learning and accountability to each other.
To promote interventions that are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
SDG 1:
Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
SAHAC’s Courage Youth Program ensures that young people are empowered with the skills, knowledge and character qualities necessary to access resources and escape the cycle of poverty.
SDG 3:
Good Health and Well-Being
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SAHAC’s Courage Youth program has a proven approach to reducing substance abuse, HIV infection, and teen pregnancy by defining and equipping youth to make healthy life choices.
SDG 4:
Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Partnering with schools, SAHAC gives learners the skills they need to succeed academically in high school and beyond.
SDG 5:
Gender Equality
Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.
SDG 10:
Reduced Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
SAHAC HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies interventions and support help reduce inequality as these disproportionately affect marginalised groups.
SDG 16:
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
By providing interventions to curb teenage pregnancies and substance abuse, SAHAC reduces violence and abuse among young people, thereby promoting peace and justice.
SDG 17:
Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
SAHAC emphasises the importance of collaboration and partnerships to achieve sustained interventions for Courage Youth programs by partnerships with government agencies, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to enhance the impact of the interventions.
How Courage Youth addresses these important outcomes
UN Sustainable Development Goals
SAHAC History
2022
IMPACT:
SAHAC had 1,196 learners in the Courage Youth program in 2022.
INCORPORATION:
SAHAC - South Africa was incorporated as a non-profit company in 2007.
2007
2006
PILOT PROJECT:
A pilot project was launched in Orlando East, a historic Soweto township, in March 2006.
2004
ESTABLISHMENT:
SAHAC was formed in 2004 as an initiative of the Association of Evangelical Relief and Development Organizations (AERDO) in the United States. As the name suggests, SAHAC was intended from the outset to be a collaboration of South African and North American Non-Profit organisations, businesses, and government organizations to reduce HIV infection among the youth in South Africa.
CY / SAHAC Impact
SAHAC has positively impacted over thousands of youth, their friends and their families since its inception, in 2006.
SAHAC has also had a positive impact on the staff and faculty of schools hosting the program.
In 2018, before Covid, Courage Club membership exceeded 2 000 learners.
Beneficiaries:
-
Primary beneficiaries: Learners at Secondary Schools
-
Secondary beneficiaries: Learners’ families, school management and faculty, School Governing Boards and relevant government departments.
Issues Being Addressed:
-
Dysfunctional family challenges, substance abuse, gender-based violence, teen pregnancy and poverty.
-
Obstacles to academic progress including overcrowded classrooms, general lack of discipline in the schools and home situations not conducive to study.
-
Limited prospects of tertiary education or employment upon graduation.
Courage Youth (CY) serves learners, families, and school staff in six public schools in the greater Soweto area.
Secondary Schools:
-
Letsibogo Girls High School, grades 8-12 Meadowlands East
-
Lofentse Girls High School, grades 8-12 Orlando East
-
Mafori Mphahlele Comprehensive High School, grades 10 12 Molapo
-
Orlando High School, grades 8-12 Orlando East.
-
Selelekela Secondary School, grades 10-12 Orlando East.
Junior Secondary Schools:
-
Kwa Ntsikana Junior Secondary School, grades 7-9 Orlando West
Youth Program Impacts - 2022
-
Total school populations in participating schools: 7 442
-
Courage Youth Members: 1 196
-
Career readiness participants: 135
-
Families/adults engaged: 317
How The Program Operates
-
Equip through a character-based life skills curriculum taught by Courage Youth Life Coaches and schoolteachers in required Life Orientation Classes. SEE LIFE AT THE CROSSROADS CURRICULUM.
2. COURAGE CLUBS
Affiliate through extra-curricular activities led by Courage Youth Life Coaches.
Club meetings, youth-centred activities and one-on-one mentoring of learners by Skilled Life Coaches..
3. COURAGE CAMPAIGNS
Engage learners through school-wide assemblies addressing critical issues affecting youth.
Motivational awareness campaigns addressing youth challenges.
4. COURAGE CAREERS
-
Empower through career counselling, job readiness training, and entrepreneurship.
-
Learner vocational assessments and entrepreneurial guidance. SEE CAREER LIFTOFF INTEREST INVENTORY.
5. COURAGE CAMPS
Expand horizons through annual leadership development camps.
Reinforce life skill principles via teaching sessions, team-building activities, and motivational speakers.
6. COURAGE COMPASSION
Restore through skilled and needs-based counselling for learners and families. Referral to other sources of issue-specific support where indicated.
PROGRAM GOALS
-
To develop and scale a robust character development program providing South African youth with a strong offensive posture toward thriving spiritual, emotional, physical, social, academic and economic health.
-
To encourage the youth to develop a strong defensive posture against premature sexual activity, alcohol/drug abuse, and abusive/violent behaviour.
-
To provide the Courage Youth Movement program to as many Soweto high schools and associated feeder middle schools as possible.
-
To expand from the program’s current six schools (6,000 learners exposed) to 22 schools (22 000 learners) by the 2028 school year.
-
To replicate the CYM model for application by other interested schools and non-profits.
OPPORTUNITIES
Get involved in corporate sponsorship and corporate social responsibility and make a lasting impact on your community.
SPONSOR PARTNERSHIPS
-
CY (SAHAC) is seeking a limited number of enduring category-exclusive, multi-dimensional business partnerships to create partnerships that are governed by mutually beneficial terms agreed upon in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
SPONSOR BENEFITS
The benefits are designed to provide value and recognition in line with the company’s objectives and the objectives of the CY (SAHAC) program. These include:
-
Naming rights at Courage Youth (SAHAC) programs
-
Prominent logo placement on event materials, websites, and promotional materials.
-
Recognition during Courage Youth (SAHAC) major events and programs.
-
Access to Courage Youth (SAHAC) events and special programs.
-
Customised collaborations and joint marketing initiatives.
-
Speaker opportunities at Courage Youth (SAHAC) events, campaigns, and programs.
-
Direct marketing to beneficiaries
Governance and Staffing
Board of Directors:
CY is governed by a ten-member Board comprising five South Africans and five North Americans. MEET THE DIRECTORS
Management Committee:
Elected annually by the Directors, comprising the Chair, Treasurer, and Managing Director.
Staffing:
Lead Team comprising the Managing Director, Curriculum Manager, and Administrative Manager.
Managing
Director
Chris Mokhachane
Chris Mokhachane joined SAHAC Staff in 2012, offering emotional support to learners through counselling. She subsequently headed the Compassion Platform as manager. She was elected to the Board and appointed Managing director in 2023.
managing.director@courageyouth.org
+27 71 677 0191
Learner Testimonies
Sphiwe – Kwa Ntsikana Junior Secondary School
“Courage Youth Club helped me in so many ways. Courage Youth club helped me to stop living the life of crime, and the young gangsterism that I involved myself in for the past three years. It gave me closure and taught me that it’s all going to be alright and helped me heal emotionally. Before I changed my way, I was really sure that my family will always be a family full of fear, misery and pain that I caused. But thanks to Courage Youth club that all changed.”
Antionette – Selelekela Secondary School
“Antoinette experienced her own tragedy. She was raped at her own home. We can only imagine the fear, anger, and sadness that Antoinette felt! Courage Youth got involved and referred Antoinette to Teddy Bear, a clinic which specializes in rape cases of young people. We also assisted her in school to get her back on track. The CY staff did counselling and encouraged her not to leave school. She graduated in 2022. She has really turned a new leaf! She is now attending Diepkloof Adult Centre to improve her Math and Physical Science grades so she can study in University for medicine. She continues to engage with her CY “support family.” Hope is restored again.”
Calvin – Mafori Mphahlele Comprehensive High School
“Born and bred in the ghetto, I come from a disadvantaged background. Truth be told I lost all hope that God does exist. I had no faith what-soever and I was constantly angry that if God is all loving and everything then why would he let his own children suffer. But then I found the Courage Youth Movement (CYM). Tlaleng, Themba and Tseole [CYM Life Coaches, edit note] are the people who helped me the most. They taught me about the anchor scripture Joshua 1:9: ‘Have I not commanded you, be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be terrified, for your God is with you wherever you go.’ They also taught me about the six pillars of respect, trust-worthy, citizenship, responsibility, fairness and caring; and not to mention the nine fruits of the spirit. Now is that amazing? It is, trust me!”.
Keith – Mafori Mphahlele Comprehensive High School
“I live in Moroka North where I grew up under foster care because my mom got arrested when I was two years old and I don’t know anything about my father. Lucky for me I was blessed with a caring person, my foster mother Rose. And I’ve lived with her ever since and she helped me with a lot of things. For example, she took me to a treatment at a young age because I was born metatarsus adductus (where your feet are facing inward instead of straight). In some cases I had bad moments where I had to change schools because of bullying. I repeated my fifth grade but lucky for me I met better friends who motivated me to do better and dream big. Then I went to Mafori High School where I found a new family, my fellow SAHAC members, in a space where I felt like I was important. So currently I’m living with my mom and one brother. My friend Kgotso from SAHAC Courage Youth inspired me to join the navy military when I finish school.”
CrossRoads Curriculum
Life at the CrossRoads (LATC) is a 30-lesson curriculum broken into five units intended for use with students over the course of a school year. Each lesson includes Activities, Journal Reflections, and Family Connections for parents.
Unit One: Relationships
Lesson 1 Looking Ahead
Lesson 2 Understanding Yourself
Lesson 3 Appreciating People
Lesson 4 Building Friendships
Lesson 5 Defining Genuine Love
Lesson 6 Facing Choices
Unit One Assessment
Unit Three: Sex in Perspective
Lesson 13 Intimacy and Marriage
Lesson 14 The Hawk and the King
Lesson 15 Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Lesson 16 Prevention Strategies
Lesson 17 The Story of AIDS
Lesson 18 HIV/AIDS: The Facts
Lesson 19 AIDS, the Future, and You
Unit Three Assessment
Unit Two: The Character Connection
Lesson 7 Building Character
Lesson 8 Character Matters
Lesson 9 Assuming Responsibility
Lesson 10 Respecting Others
Lesson 11 A Role Model of Good Character
Lesson 12 A Closer Look
Unit Two Assessment
Unit Five: Navigating Your Future
Lesson 25 Amazing Love
Lesson 26 A New Start
Lesson 27 It Takes Courage
Lesson 28 Your Life at the CrossRoads
Lesson 29 Character Workshop
Lesson 30 CrossRoads Character Presentation
Unit Five Assessment
Unit Four: Life Skills
Lesson 20 Right Choices
Lesson 21 Jason and the Time Thread
Lesson 22 The Pressures You Face
Lesson 23 Standing Strong
Lesson 24 How to Say No
Unit Four Assessment
Courage Youth (SAHAC) Directors
Zeke Swift - USA. Chair; Management Committee
Zeke Swift’s first trip to South Africa in 2004 created an enduring connection with the country and youth of South Africa. Zeke was part of the USA/RSA delegation the same year that talked to people in forty RSA organisations in six South African cities and drafted the strategy that launched SAHAC. Zeke has served as Chair since SAHAC was incorporated in 2007. He brings to the work 23 years of global marketing, issue management and organisation design experience at Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer products company. He consults with for-profit and not-for-profit organisations in the areas of strategy, organisation development, and issue management.
Moeketsi Khoali - RSA. Vice Chair; Development Committee
Moeketsi Khoali is an Executive with over 20 years of financial and commerce experience who worked for ABSA, First National Bank, Nedbank, Transnet, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Department of Public Enterprises, National Nuclear Regulator and SANBI, holding executive positions like Senior Financial Manager, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Corporate Officer. He is currently a sole Managing Director of a Private Company. He holds a Degree in Commerce (BCom), a Management Development Programme (MDP) from Unisa School of Business Leadership, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Henley Business School, a Global Executive Development Programme (GEDP) from GIBS Business School (UP). He was a Board Member and Audit Committee Chairperson of an NPC. He is also a founder and Independent Trustee of a PBO involved in community development. He is a Licentiate member of the Chartered Institute of Business Management, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors (IoD), an Associate member of the Institute of Risk Management South Africa (IRMSA) and Member of Boardroom International.
Paul Scholten - USA. Treasurer; Management Committee
Paul Scholten is a co-founder of SAHAC-South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Math and Physics from Calvin College, a Master of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and Advanced Management Studies at the Claremont Graduate School of Business. He brings the experience of an inspiring 35-year career in aerospace with industry leaders - the McDonnell Douglas and Boeing Companies. Leaving industry for non-profit work, he soon fulfilled a passion for the vulnerable children, youth and families of South Africa, where he and his wife Cathy have focused their full-time energies for the past 23 years. His role with SAHAC and other non-profits fulfils not only his passion for compassion but also his passion for leadership and the development and mentoring of young global leaders.
Khanyi Mlambo Chaba - RSA. Secretary; Chair, Development Committee
Khanyi Mlambo’s career spans over 30 years in Corporate South Africa in Construction and Financial Services, championing businesses to purposefully pursue growth whilst creating a meaningful impact on society and the environment. She is a Committee Member of the Institute of Directors SA –and a Board member of Legay Africa Publishers, an Associate of the Shared Value Africa Initiative, and a Faculty Member at Cambridge Institute of Leadership. She holds an Honors in Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Applied Social Sciences, a National Diploma in Architecture, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Management, and Certificates in Business and Executive General Management. She is a previous Board Member of the UN Global Compact, National Business Initiative, Motheo Construction Group, South African Women in Construction and the Construction Industry Development Board. As a mountaineer and long-distance runner, Khanyi campaigns for youth and women’s issues, focusing on education, financial inclusion, mental health and well-being.
Chris Mokhachane - RSA. Managing Director, Management Committee, Development Committee
Chris Mokhachane joined SAHAC Staff in 2012, offering emotional support to learners through counselling. She subsequently headed the Compassion Platform as manager. She was elected to the Board and appointed Managing director in 2023. She holds a 4-year Diploma in General Nursing, Midwifery, Community Health and Psychiatric Health from Bonalesedi Nursing College and a BA Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand with majors in Psychology and Sociology. She is a mother of three adult children and two grandchildren and has been a dedicated member of Grace Bible Church in Soweto for the past 40 years. Chris believes in the ability of Youth to change the future of South Africa using their passion and energy for what the country needs to build a better tomorrow. She believes that what young people need is a vision to live for and a cause to fight for.
Evelyn Sella - RSA. Chartered Accountant
Eve Sella graduated Wits University in 1994, and completed her articles with KPMG. She spent her newly qualified years in the manufacturing industry before securing a financial directorship position with a property group. In 2005, Eve started her own business, specifically catering to the accounting and taxation needs of smaller organisations and NPOs. Eve is a mom of two sons, the oldest currently living in New Zealand, where he is a chef. Eve’s youngest son is in High School in Johannesburg and hopes to pursue a career in journalism and broadcasting. Eve’s passion for the youth of South Africa pre-dates her professional relationship with SAHAC. It was a happy coincidence that SAHAC appointed Eve as an accounting officer in 2015, given that her passion aligned perfectly with those of the organisation. Eve accepted an appointment to the SAHAC board in 2021 and provides valuable support to the SAHAC staff and management team.
Lou Haveman - USA
Lou Haveman is a retired missionary, businessman, and author. He spent ten years living in Nigeria and another 12 years initiating six development programs in several countries. He is a real estate broker and started a clean and safe water business which is now managed by his extended family. His first book, Your Story is Our Story, written to celebrate the 60th anniversary of World Renew, captures the stories of 63 colleagues, and ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences in global ministry. His second book, A Life Journey: Reflections from Africa and Appalachia is full of real-life stories from Lou’s years in Africa and walking the 2,190 miles of the Appalachian Trail.
Gil Odendaal - USA
Gil Odendaal serves as Executive Director of the LIA Global Institute. He is a missional entrepreneur with over thirty years of ministry experience as a missionary, pastor, educator, leader, author and public speaker. From serving as Senior Vice President for World Relief and directing global initiatives for Saddleback Church to building innovative programs for other well-known global ministries and serving as pastor at churches with memberships of 100 to 23,000. He has invested his life to equip and serve the church and its pastors around the world to seamlessly integrate word and deed ministries that transform communities, especially through initiatives focused on women and children. His passion for seeing Christ proclaimed where there is no church and strengthening the church where it barely exists has resulted in ministry on four continents and more than a hundred countries. He completed his PhD in Intercultural Studies at Trinity International University and a D.Min at Westminster Theological Seminary. He has published several articles and is also the author of Standing with the Vulnerable: A Curriculum for Transforming Lives and Communities published by IVP.
Gene Peterson - USA
Gene Peterson held several executive positions during his 28 years at Deluxe Corporation, including vice president of eBusiness and corporate development. He took early retirement from Deluxe to help research and develop four nonprofit and business organisations doing HIV/AIDS ministry and job creation in Southern Africa. Gene’s education includes a BA, MS in mathematics, and an MBA. He has served on several church and community boards in Minnesota. Gene and his wife live in Minnesota. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren.
Kevin Pippert - RSA
Kevin Pippert has worked with Medical Ambassadors International based in California, USA for over 18 years and serves as the Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa. Kevin and his wife Erica established a South African Christian Non-Profit organisation, 360 Transformation, equipping Christian leaders for wholistic transformation in Southern Africa. Kevin has a passion for empowering ordinary people in developing communities to meet their own needs and helping those working in those communities to value mutually beneficial partnerships. Kevin has a BA in Biblical Studies and a Master of Divinity from Trinity International University. Originally from the USA, Kevin has spent over 15 years overseas, travelling to 60 countries, and has lived in the Philippines, England and South Africa. Kevin, and his wife Erica, currently reside in Cape Town, South Africa.
CONTACT
Thank you for your interest in supporting SAHAC - Southern Africa HIV/AIDS Collaboration. Please reach out to us via the contact form or using the contact information provided below.
Career Liftoff Interest Inventory
The Career Liftoff® Interest Inventory (CLII) assesses the career interests of individuals and aligns them with the interest profiles of various career fields. The CLII model organises the world of work around six distinct categories of interests.
All jobs of work can be classified according to their alignment with these six career types:
Realistic: Doers who like to observe, learn, investigate, analyse, evaluate, or solve problems primarily of a scientific or mathematical nature; analytical, reserved, independent, scholarly.
Investigative: Thinkers who have athletic or mechanical ability, prefer to work with objects, machines, tools, plants, or animals, and like to work independently or outdoors; hands-on, practical, direct.
Artistic: Creators who have artistic, innovative, or intuitional abilities, and like to work in unstructured situations using their imagination or originality; creative, self-expressive, original.
Social: Helpers who like working with people to inform, enlighten, teach, train, develop, heal, or help them reach their potential; cooperative, sociable, empathetic, skilled with words.
Enterprising: Persuaders who like working with people to influence, persuade, lead, direct, or manage them for organisational goals or economic gain; influential, energetic, ambitious, competitive.
Conventional: Organisers who like to work with data, have clerical or numerical ability, like structure, attending to details, or following through on instructions; careful, structured, conforming.
IMPORTANT CHANGES
As of October 2024, SAHAC is now known as Courage Youth / Courage Youth South Africa. This is the government approved non-profit organization name. Please keep this in mind going forward.