The
World Education Fellowship 41st International conference which took
place in South Africa in
2001, laid a foundation for the establishment of the South African Youth
chapter of WEF here in South
Africa. The sixteen students who attended
this conference from the former Vista
University carried the
mandate of the conference for the establishment of the youth chapter.
After
the conference, these young people gathered to put together the constitution
and the strategic plan as recommended by WEFSA. South African Fellowship for Education
Youth Forum (SAFEYF) was formed. It is now known as World Education Fellowship
South Africa Youth Forum (WEFSAYF).
The
vision and mission of the WEFSAYF has been and is in line with those of the
WEF. However, the objectives and activities are more of youth involvement and
participation. Among others, the objectives and activities include the
following:
Organize/attend workshops, conferences
and creating a forum for the youth in a form of debate/group discussion.
Create forum for interaction and communication
between SAFEYF, WEFYF and other organisations.
Encouraging the sharing of expertise
amongst youth in joint research projects
Promote equality in all spheres and non-discrimination.
Educate and implement environmental
education Organize HIV/AIDS awareness campaign
Carryout projects for the needy, old
age, and promoting welfare for the minorities
Support social activities such as arts
& culture
Empowering youth with life skills.
Create a forum for discussion and
promote dialogue amongst the youth with regard to the daily challenges they are
faced with.
Vista University served as a quality assurance body for SAFEYF since
the majority of the members were studying at this university. The university
provided an account, office, publications and other official assistance when
need arose.
In 2001 the youth,
housed by the Mamelodi campus of the former Vista University which is now known
as the University of Pretoria, conducted their first community based project at
the Mamelodi frail care for the aged (Masca). The youth helped the staff and the
frail with every day to day chore which the owners of the centre required or
needed help from. The aim of this project was to create awareness amongst youth
about the importance of caring for the senior citizens.