Conquest For Life
Community Service in Johannesburg

Conquest For Life is a social enterprise registered as a section 21 company and a not for profit with section 18a status. Single parent families headed by the mother are common, leaving young men without positive male role models. Conquest For Life has created and established this environment through a number of projects which give young people a variety of opportunities to redefine themselves from a minus to a plus; a failure to success and from a nobody to somebody.· Strengthening Family StructuresOne of the main problems in the townships is the lack of family values and poor family structures and environments. The enterprise is also registered with SARS as a public benefits organisation. MISSION STATEMENT“To be a self-sustaining youth organisation, run by young people, empowered to become agents of change by developing their identity, self worth, and a sense of community.”OBJECTIVES · Developing a Sense of SelfYoung people in South Africa need time, space and a safe environment in which to pursue alternatives to their current lifestyles. For every project Conquest For Life has incorporated a family/parent component (e.g. workshops, computer courses, volunteering) as a way of addressing this problem.· Strengthening Community StructuresConquest For Life is attempting to open up and strengthen dialogue between the child/young person, parent, community institutions (e.g. schools, community centres) and the wider community to ensure a holistic and sustainable approach to addressing community concerns.· Youth Development & EmpowermentThe majority of staff came to Conquest For Life through participating in youth camps or after school activities and are therefore well placed to relate to other beneficiaries.

Young people in South Africa need time, space and a safe environment in which to pursue alternatives to their current lifestyles. Conquest For Life has created and established this environment through a number of projects which give young people a variety of opportunities to redefine themselves from a minus to a plus; a failure to success and from a nobody to somebody. One of the main problems in the townships is the lack of family values and poor family structures and environments. For every project Conquest For Life has incorporated a family/parent component (e.g. Conquest For Life is attempting to open up and strengthen dialogue between the child/young person, parent, community institutions (e.g. schools, community centres) and the wider community to ensure a holistic and sustainable approach to addressing community concerns. The majority of staff came to Conquest For Life through participating in youth camps or after school activities and are therefore well placed to relate to other beneficiaries. In terms of the new companies act, the organisation is now known as a Not For Profit Company. The past years have been very exciting and challenging at times. In this profile you will learn about Conquest For Life, its programmes, successes and even challengers. Conquest For Life (CFL) has been in existence for over twenty one (21) years and has worked to achieve the following objectives: Developing a Sense of Self Young people in South Africa need time, space and a safe environment in which to pursue alternatives to their current lifestyles. For Life was established in 1995 in Westbury, a township 8km west of Johannesburg. A group of young people came together to initiate innovate approaches to complex problems facing their community and, in doing so, make a difference in the lives of their family and friends. In October 1995 in Westbury, a group of young people came together to initiate innovative approaches to complex problems facing their community and, in doing so, to make a difference in the lives of their friends, families, neighbours and community members. Many have not had positive relationships with productive, supportive role models. Anger and frustration are released anti-socially through random acts of violence, gang affiliation, crime, drug, and alcohol abuse. As a result they lack the life skills needed to adjust to structured environments and to develop positive relationships. For Life aims to empower the youth through a myriad of programs designed to produce a safe and structured environment in which the youth can realize their potential and have access to the life skills needed to enrich their lives. Our target group includes unemployed, out of school youth, youth in conflict with the law, parents, and people in the community interested in mentoring. The following is a reflection of most of the townships in South Africa. Living conditions are poor and even worse in the informal settlements with very high residential densities. Housing is basic with many people staying in self-constructed dwelling units made from corrugated iron, wood or clay, with very few brick houses visible. Due to the remoteness of the area, income levels are very low and indicative of the high levels of po