THE doors of the multimillion rand Helenvale Barcelona Youth Centre were recently opened by The Mandela Bay Development Agency, an entity of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
The centre, that cost R2.5 million, was launched through The Safety and Peace through Urban Upgrading (SPUU) programme.
The goal of the facility is for the youth to have a space of their own where youth activities and services can be brought to them and allow them to create and be empowered.
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Eugene Johnson, said that the opening of this facility was a groundbreaking development of the MBDA and partners and would undoubtedly improve the lives of young people and the broader community of Helenvale.
“Allow me to commend the head of SPUU and the Helenvale community for their extraordinary work and vision, which outline the development for the rehabilitation and redefinition of the community,” Johnson said.
Head of SPUU, MBDA operations executive, Debbie Hendricks, said that unless their interventions in Helenvale translate to the upliftment and hope for the youth, these interventions will be meaningless.
“The SPUU programme, supported by the KfW Development Bank of Germany, has, over the years, offered various skills and development programmes for the youth of Helenvale.
“We hope that the youth centre will be owned and protected by the community. It is designed to be a safe space, an oasis, in an otherwise difficult and stressful environment,” she explained.
“The MBDA will manage and operate the centre through designated staff by bringing services, activities, and programmes to the youth (formal an informal) with partners in the community, as well as external partners who share the same vision,” Hendricks added.
The hopeful youth of Helenvale can expect various youth skills development programmes, homework, and after-school programmes, as well as computer programmes, access to information and a printing facility.
The facility comes with the following functional spaces:
- Workshop room
- Games room
- Computer lab and library
- Office
- Kitchenette
- Ablutions
- Outdoor play / seating area
- Additional offices for formal services
Approximately 30 jobs were created during the establishment of the centre, and this number excludes other services procured, such as security.
“This facility is amazing for the improvement of youngsters’ lives and the well-being of the community; it is something we have never had and is truly historical,” said the chairperson of the Helenvale Business Formation (metro representative, Ward 32), Eugene Hartnick.
“I am sure that the community will agree that the NMBM through the MBDA has demonstrated its commitment towards transforming Helenvale, thereby responding to the call to rid the community of criminality and poverty and to create conditions for development and sustainable growth through funding provided by KfW under the SPUU,” Johnson concluded.
