Charlene Steytler and Siyabulela Dela with the young men of the programme
In the midst of poverty and the social issues that are born out of the Mallaca Road Informal Settlement, 27-year-old Siyabulela Dela is a man on a mission to impact lives, one young man at a time.
A father and a leader within the community, Dela has taken the youth under his wing, acting as a role model to seven young men of the settlement with hopes of empowering, uplifting and changing their lives for the better as part of The Seed Foundation’s mentorship programme. “I want to have a positive impact on young people in our community by keeping them motivated and focused on a better future and staying out of trouble. I believe every child deserves a better future which they will only get from receiving a better education and the support and guidance to reach their full potential,” explained Dela.
According to Dela, the incredible transformation can already be seen, stating that the boys have grown in such a positive way. “They have become more respectful of themselves as well as those around them. They are excited about the future and have been exposed to the world outside the settlement, which has been such a positive thing.” There is no stone left unturned with Dela and his gentlemen in the making. Topics such as personal hygiene, looking after your health and the environment around you had been covered in their weekly group sessions. According to administrator of The Seed Fund, Charlene Steytler, emphasis on other important topics such as GBV, breaking the cycle and calling out abuse was also stressed upon. “With the 16 days of activism coming up, as well the GBV crisis we face in our country, these are crucial topics to be addressed. Siya has also been focusing on drug and alcohol abuse as these are realities that the boys are exposed to. He stresses the importance of being secure in yourself and not succumbing to peer pressure,” explained Steytler.
“We, The Seed Fund, and our partner, The Jes Foord Foundation, are so proud of the work Siya is doing with the boys. We have seen his set-up and he is leading them in such a positive way. It is so important to have a role model who is respectful, hard-working and motivated to build a better future for himself under the current circumstances he lives under. They boys are able to see that through hard work you can achieve, and that poverty is not your destiny. There is a world out there waiting for them to step into and make a difference,” said Steytler. The remarkable impact of genuine love and found family doesn’t just end with the boys; Dela himself has grown tremendously after taking on this role. He shares that this programme has made him a better father and giving back to his community changed him and continues to do so every day. “Being a mentor to the boys has given me the drive to work towards a better future and to grow as an individual. I am determined to work hard for a better future for my family and to show the boys there is hope in our country.”
Dela adds that the boys have grown to be family to him and that he will always try his utmost best to show up for them, stating that nothing would make him more proud than the possibility of one of the boys mentoring his own sons coming true. “The boys are all unique. There are a couple who have natural leadership skills and have the potential to make a difference in the community and our country as they are compassionate and show determination. Others are good with their hands and have the potential to be great tradesmen. We really believe that each of the seven boys are being equipped for better futures by being exposed to the possibilities or life outside of an informal settlement.” In light of the 16 days of activism launching on 25 November, on Saturday, 27 November, the boys together with members of The Seed Fund will be creating a kiddies corner at a local government hospital crisis centre. According to Steytler, the boys are incredibly excited to give back, spread awareness and be part of the change.
