1. Siyakha Nentsha
“Building with Young People”
Enhancing the health,
economic,
and social
capabilities
of
highly
vulnerable
adolescents
T
he Isihlangu Health and Development Agency developed a life- KEY FINDINGS
ØØØØ
orientation programme for young people in KwaZulu-Natal that Siyakha Nentsha addresses
has been tested locally. The programme, Siyakha Nentsha (isiZulu topics not discussed
for „building with young people‟), provides context-appropriate elsewhere that are important
strategies to enhance participants‟ financial skills, social support, HIV/AIDS in the lives of young people
and reproductive health knowledge and skills, and future life options. Ø
The programme is accredited by the South African Qualifications Siyakha Nentsha increases
Authority, meaning participants who complete Siyakha Nentsha have an young people‟s confidence to
asset that may assist them with accessing jobs and other opportunities in prepare for the future and
the future. cope with difficult situations
Ø
The long-term goal of the programme is to improve the Siyakha Nentsha girls and boys
lifelong skills and well-being of adolescents in KZN learned and used budgeting
Over 1400 young people have participated in Siyakha Nentsha since and planning skills
Ø
2008. The intervention took place in a peri-urban area called Siyakha Nentsha girls and boys
“Ngonyameni,” located outside of Durban and adjacent to the township of showed improved knowledge
Umlazi. The programme has been rigorously evaluated by the Population of social grant requirements
Council and UKZN; results from the evaluation are promising. and criteria
Ø
As the vast majority of young people in South Africa attend school Siyakha Nentsha girls and boys
during their teenage years, working through the schools was the most were more likely to know
effective way to reach large numbers of participants. We wanted to work how to search for a job,
with young people who would be able to use the skills relatively quickly interview and start a business
after finishing school, yet not be too distracted by the programme and lose Ø
time studying for their matric exams. We determined therefore that Among boys, Siyakha Nentsha
learners in grades 10 and 11 would be the most appropriate to start with. participants were less likely
to begin having sex
Ø
What were some topics discussed in Siyakha Nentsha? Siyakha Nentsha girls and boys
While many programmes for young people in South Africa attempt were more likely to know
to reach them with information about HIV and AIDS, Siyakha Nentsha also where to get a condom if
gives young people a chance to discuss and learn about critical issues that they needed it
Ø
are not addressed elsewhere, like gender, budgeting, job seeking and sexual Working with both boys and
violence. These normally neglected topics are critical in young people‟s lives girls can impact how they
and for many participants—especially boys—this was their first opportunity relate to one another and
to touch upon such themes. make a difference to both
genders
1

2. What is Siyakha Nentsha?
The programme was delivered in 10th -11th standard
classrooms by teams of facilitators who were recent graduates
from the programme schools. They led sessions with learners 2 to
3 times per week in classrooms during school hours; each session
lasted approximately 1 hour.
Sessions included modules on self-awareness, human
rights, HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, the value of planning for
the future, saving money, accessing banks, job readiness and basic
The evaluation process principles of starting a business. Each session was highly interactive
and included time for participation and reflection. Facilitators were
We did research to assess the effectiveness also available after session hours to discuss personal issues faced
of the programme. There were 7 secondary schools by learners.
in the study area; 6 initially received the programme
and the seventh served as a comparison. After the
study was over, learners in the comparison school
received a streamlined version of the intervention.
We interviewed learners before and after
the programme to see how their lives changed over
time. We asked them questions about their families,
schooling, work experience, attitudes and values, as
well as health knowledge and behaviours. We
compared the changes experienced by learners who
were in Siyakha Nentsha to those who were not.
What did we learn about the learners?
Situation of learners in 2009 Boys Girls Learners in the study faced a host of challenges.
Over one-third of young people in the study had lost a
Average age (years) 19 18 parent. Many learners lived with grandmothers, siblings,
% who are orphans 41 38 aunts or uncles. More than one out of every five learners
% who report ever been pregnant — 20 reported that their household did not have enough money
for food, much less other basics.
% who say their household doesn’t have
enough money for basic necessities
74 75 Most live in homes with electricity, but report
frequent outages. Eighty eight percent of households were
% whose homes are connected to receiving some kind of social grant. Although schools are
97 92
electricity
often located far from learners‟ homes, transport is lacking
% who did not have food to eat and most learners walk to school. Around 17% of girls take
10 14
the morning of the survey
a taxi to school most days, possibly to avoid unsafe
% who walk to school 88 82 situations that can arise when girls walk alone. Reflecting
% who have ever worked for pay 19 8 the lack of employment opportunities in the area, only a
small number of participants had ever undertaken work for
# of members in the household 7 8
which they were paid: 17% of boys and 8% of girls.
% who live in a female-headed household 54 48
Mean # of items owned by household, out
9.8 9.5
How did Siyakha Nentsha affect
of 22
learners?
Boys (%) Girls (%)
The charts on the next pages show the differences
between males and females and between learners in the Non- Siyakha Non- Siyakha
programme and those who did not have it until after the Progra Nentsha Program Nentsha
mme me
study. (Statistical significance is shown by the *).
I feel like I have a number 82 89* 86 87
of good qualities
The programme devoted substantial amount of time
to helping young people think about their self-identities, goals I feel like I can express my 88 95* 91 94
and sense of worth. Siyakha Nentsha participants, especially ideas to others
boys, felt more confident and believed they had a number of I do not have any hope for 18 13 16 13
good qualities. Participants were also much more likely to the future
report being able to express their ideas to others. I feel as intelligent as most 81 93* 84 87
2 people my age

3. Skills and confidence lead to a better future
Siyakha Nentsha makes a difference in the way learners feel about
themselves and the way they are able to navigate the world. Siyakha
Nentsha boys and girls had significantly higher rates of discussing social
grants, looking for work, starting a business, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and
gender relations.
The financial education and career guidance offered by the
programme also appear to have made a lasting impression on participants.
 Siyakha Nentsha males and females had much higher rates of having
discussed financial decision making, careers, starting a business and
looking for work.
 Programme learners were also more likely to have greater knowledge
of the range of social grants available in South Africa, including
eligibility criteria for each grant.
 Ability to answer math/financial questions correctly was also higher among Siyakha Nentsha participants.
Boys (%) Girls (%) Over and above this increased exposure to
information about gender relations, self-identity and sexual
Have you ever Non
Siyakha
Non
Siyakha health among programme participants, the programme also
Pro- Pro-
talked about... gramme
Nentsha
gramme
Nentsha appears to have made real changes in behaviours. There is
evidence, for example, that a significantly smaller
Accessing social grants 59 83* 53 81* percentage of male participants (compared with non-
Looking for work 70 86* 72 84* participant males) sexually debuted (had sex for the first
time) between the first and second surveys. Among
Career guidance 69 90* 76 89*
females, there were no detectable impacts on sexual debut,
How to start a business 73 86* 66 80* but encouraging changes in condom use were observed.
Financial decisionmaking 69 86* 67 85*
Saving money for the
55 84* 67 80
future
Interpreting data 61 80* 59 78*
Self-esteem, attitudes,
84 94* 82 89
values
Sexuality 83 98* 83 92*
Violence and sexual
75 96* 79 93*
abuse
HIV/AIDS 89 93 88 92
Gender relations 64 90* 66 83*
Female participants reported a significant increase
in confidence in the ability to find and to use a condom
effectively after completing the programme. Moreover, this
increase in confidence seems to have translated into more
consistent condom use. Among females who were already
having sex, for example, more participants reported regularly
using a condom with their most recent sexual partner.
Siyakha Nentsha also had an impact on concrete skills
that help prepare young people for their future. One of the key
objectives of the programme was to help learners develop
financial goals and to enhance their financial decisionmaking
ability. Learners in
the program have
made big progress in this area.
A substantial and percentage of female programme participants, for
example, started to save money for the future during the programme. In
addition, both male and female programme participants engaged with
financial institutions such as banks. Girls in the program were significantly
more likely (p<0.10) to have tried to open a bank account, and programme
boys who tried to open a bank account were more successful than their
counterparts who did not have access to Siyakha Nentsha. 3

4. Comprehensive programmes like Siyakha Nentsha are the way forward
S
ome programmes for young people are moving beyond talking only about sexual abstinence and using condoms.
The social and economic challenges that make HIV and AIDS threats to young people also need to be tackled
straight away. Programmes such as Siyakha Nentsha include training on human rights, financial planning, and skills for
making better choices.
These topics are discussed—along with teen pregnancy, HIV and AIDS - in setting where young people can speak
freely and are mentored by trained facilitators from their own community. This type of life orientation can provide young
people with useable skills that reduce HIV risk, increase their financial empowerment and enhance their ability to cope
with the stresses of growing up in a challenging environment. More than two-thirds of participants reported they would
have benefited by having the programme at an earlier grade. A critical component of the success of Siyakha Nentsha was
working with both young men and young women, as both were shown to benefit from this programme. It also changed
the way girls and boys related to one another by increasing their understanding and respect for the opposite sex. Skills-
building provided by young adults from the same community was shown to increase the participation and engagement of
participants—transforming the programme from a passive to an active one. Building together with young people—Siyakha
Nentsha—can help lead to a brighter future for South Africa.
For more information about Siyakha Nentsha contact:
Kasthuri Govender / Emmanuel Mbatha Michael Rogan Kelly Hallman
Isihlangu Health & Development Agency University of KwaZulu-Natal Population Council
27 (0)835657378 031 2603332 +1 212-339-0602
kasthurigo@telkomsa.net rogan@ukzn.ac.za khallman@popcouncil.org
Isihlangu.blogspot.com IsihlanguHDA@gmail.com www.slideshare.net/IsihlanguHDA
We gratefully acknowledge the guidance, support, and participation of the
following people, without whom this programme could never have taken place:
Inkosi M.M. Cele, Acting inkosi of Vumengazi Tribal Authority
Inkosi Makhanya, Inkosi of Sobonakhona Tribal Authority
Mr. Mbuyiseni Percival Mkhize, Chairperson Ward 100 Youth Forum, Municipal Structure
Mr. N. Cele, Ward Manager, Umbumbulu District, Department of Education
Mr. M.W. Mbhele & staff, Mhawu Secondary School
Mr. M.J. Mhlongo & staff, Inwabi Secondary School
Mr. M.D. Msomi & staff, Nomavimbela Secondary School
Mrs. P. Deonath & staff, Khulabebuka Secondary School
Mr. S.E. Sibiya & staff, Fundinduku Secondary School
Mrs. C.B. Ngubane & staff, Skhwama Secondary School
Mr. Ndlela & staff, Sobonakhona Secondary School
Ms. Nomali Magwaza, Umbumbulu District, Dept. of Education
Mr. Solly Serumula, Accudata
Ms. Eva Roca, Ms. Cecilia Calderon, Ms. Hannah Taboada, Population Council
Dr. Deevia Bhana, Dr. Rob Pattman, and Prof. Alan Whiteside (HEARD), UKZN
The facilitators: Nombango Anna Sibeko, Thabile Shozi, Mboneni Genesis Thwala, Nduduzo Blessing
Msomi, Pretty Thandani Cele, Nontobeko Charlotte Cele, Sabelo Emmanuel Mkhize, Banele Precious
Ngcobo, Njabulo Freedom Ndlovu, Noxolo Peaceful Makhanya, Mbali Pretty Mseleku, Sithembile Pretty
Gumede, Bongekile Carol Shozi, Nokulunga Dorah Shange, Ayanda Mthabela, and Siphiwe Cyril Mbava
The participants : A special word of thank you for staying
with the programme and persevering.
4