The City of Cape Town’s Metro Police Training Academy is on a recruitment drive to push up the number of Volunteer Youth Cadets.

A hundred learners from five schools attended a leadership camp recently – some of whom could potentially be the newest Youth Cadet recruits.  Forty of the learners will now be recruited to join the Youth Cadet Programme!

The Mayoral Committee Member of Safety and Security JP Smith says they are extremely proud of the Youth Cadet Programme.

“It is social crime prevention in action, and we have seen a number of young people flourish as a result and become leaders in their communities. In the last few years, we have also started offering training like basic peace officer and first-aid training, and even driving lessons. This gives our cadets access to a range of opportunities as they transition from school into the working world.”

The Youth Cadet Programme was established in 2013, on the back of numerous successful Metro Police youth camps that focused on positive youth development.

Learners who showed the most improvement in behaviour and discipline after attending the camps were selected to register as youth cadets. The Youth Cadet Programme started with a first intake of 32 members.

The new recruits will increase the number of cadets to more than 200.

Smith says a community can only benefit from individuals who possess a positive spirit and good leadership qualities.

“These youth cadets have the potential to act as role-models and to effect change in their social and community circles. Many have already done us proud with their achievements and willingness to exploit the opportunities that have come their way and I encourage the new recruits to follow in their footsteps.”

Smile-in-Action and the Reach For A Dream Foundation campaign reached its R250 000 target early Monday morning, less than a week after the campaign was launched!

This could not have been possible without the generosity of all our listeners.

A huge shout-out goes to Foord Asset Management who donated a massive R60 000 towards this beautiful cause which will now see nearly 100 little dreamers going on a weekend camping trip known as Camp Sunshine.

At Camp Sunshine, the emphasis is placed on team work and building social skills. Children with similar medical challenges are drawn together in days of fun, spent outdoors where their illnesses are set aside.

The children learn social skills in peer group settings which is an imperative step in their lives as their social interaction is often limited to interaction with doctors and their family only. The camp also nurtures confidence and problem solving skills, overcoming obstacles as part of a team.

Reach for Dream’s Western Cape Branch Manager Heidi Rowley says she has been completely blown away by the generosity of Capetonians, and she has thanked every single person who donated, to make it possible for these children to have joy, sunshine and laughter.

The funds raised will also go towards the Family Focus weekend, where the entire family can enjoy a day of fun, where illnesses are forgotten. Relationships are built, friendships are formed and an escape from the hospital and its associated worries is achieved.

Thank you again to all those who opened their hearts, and to Brendan from Foord Asset Management for coming through with the big chunk of cash to send us over the R250 000 mark!

Two 15-year old boys from Cape Town who are strong youth activists for mental health awareness is hosting a swim-a-thon to raise funds for this cause.

Christopher Kleynhans and Reece Slade are about to host their third annual 12 hour swim-a-thon to raise funds and awareness under the banner of “Swim For Change” which was founded by the two boys in 2015.

Two swim-a-thons will take place this year, one on 9 March at Wynberg Boys’ High School and the other one on 13 April at the Reddam House in Constantia.

The aim is to raise enough money to be able to pay for expert speakers to visit schools to speak about anxiety and teen suicide.

The Director of Swim For Change Cathy Slade says they are two exceptional boys who have also formed a Non-Profit Organisation, called Earth Kids Org, which focuses on youth-led environmental issues, greening public space, recycling and reducing single-use plastic.

The boys also continue to be mentors in the Chaeli Campaign “Pay It Forward” programme.

With all the above, the boys have been recognised as “change makers” and have been nominated this year for the KidsRights International Children’s Peace Prize Award.

To support the boys you can email change@helloafrica.biz

If you have any good news stories to share with us email news@smile904.fm

The City of Cape Town’s annual Neighbourhood Watch Awards event celebrates individuals and groups within the neighbourhood watch fraternity who go above and beyond the call of duty.

Now in its second year, the Neighbourhood Watch Awards celebrates and acknowledges the achievements and contributions of individuals and groups who help build safer communities in Cape Town.

The nomination process is now open and will close on Friday 8 March 2019.

Nominations can be submitted for an individual or a group/team, in a number of categories, including:

· Courage in action award
· Social responsibility award
· Broken windows award
· Organisational excellence award
· Crime fighter of the year award

There are also a number of Leaders’ Choice awards, adjudged by the Mayor, the Mayoral Commitee Member for Safety and Security, the Western Cape Minister of Community Safety and the South African Provincial Police Commissioner.

Last year, over 80 nominations were received, culminating in 34 awards.

A full list of categories is available in the link here: http://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Have-your-say/surveys-and-submissions/neighbourhood-watch-awards

An organisation, representing about 150 restaurants in the Stellenbosch region, has launched a campaign to up-skill and develop local communities.

Stellenbosch Wine Routes announced earlier this month that the umbrella organization, Tasting Stellenbosch, will for the first time, represent all these eateries.

Chairperson of Stellenbosch Wine Routes, Michael Ratcliffe says their focus is to up-skill the community by providing hospitality training.

Excited to launch TASTING STELLENBOSCH.

Chairman Chef George Jardine & deputy Bertus Basson driving an ambitious Stellenbosch Wine Routes social development initiative and uniting our local restaurant community around this noble initiative. https://t.co/wyKAX0qh90 pic.twitter.com/8kxA7ref4S

— FarmerMike™ 👨‍🌾 (@mikeratcliffe) February 2, 2019

Ratcliffe says they have a number of programmes to achieve their aim, and ultimately, lots more jobs will be created.

“Stellenbosch has long been a culinary leader on the South African gastronomic scene. Many decades of awards and recognition culminated in the 2018 Eat Out Awards recognizing that an extraordinary one in five of the top 30 restaurants in South Africa are based in the Stellenbosch Winelands. The Stellenbosch Wine & Food Tourism renaissance continues apace with exciting developments in planning for the past six months. There is an immense skill in this sector and our chefs are looking forward to plough it back into the Stellenbosch communities to add to a long-term foundation for greatness.”

The next step is to reach out to communities and identify people who will be interested in joining the industry, and providing training on the job.

Driven by a mandate to affect real change, @StellWineRoute officially introduced 'Tasting Stellenbosch' – chaired by Stellies chefs @GeorgeJardine & @BertusBasson – which will be upskilling the community by providing hospitality training: https://t.co/rjXhMfAG5D @mikeratcliffe pic.twitter.com/R6aVVKfrIq

— WineLand Media (@WineLandSA) February 4, 2019