In deprived regions of South Africa, youngsters have little or no opportunities for development, as young as 13 years old they join gangs in their areas. Loss of parents, poverty and family breakdown have pushed thousands of children onto the streets to try to earn money. Because of this cruel living conditions many start begging and stealing while others resort to drug use. According to UNICEF, there are 1.2 million orphans in Africa under the age of 15 while 800,000 are affected by HIV & AIDS. Thanks to the uplifting projects thru the local professionals or NGO, they provide care aiming to transform the lives of these children. One is the Bezzi Youth Brass Band which was put together to give bored youngsters something to do. “It keeps my mind fresh and helps me develop”, says a youth band member.

In Zambia, performing arts is a way of engaging youth and help them express themselves in acrobats, dancing, singing and drumming. It help gain valuable information and ultimately prevent them from living on the streets. The group activities looks like serious work so children are more likely to play along without realizing they are being offered help. In Senegal, their boarding school uses basketball as a vehicle to empower Senegal’s youth. It lets them improve their basketball skills while offering them quality education. Amado Gallo Fall says, “As Africans we have a responsibility to build our community.” “To me it was about how these young people could use their God given talent to get an education and making them see that there’s a pathway to success.”

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G.R. No. 186180 March 22, 2010MAGSAYSAY MARITIME CORPORATION AND/OR CRUISE SHIPS CATERING AND SERVICES INTERNATIONAL N.V. vs.NLRC AND ROMMEL B. CEDOL. (Courtesy of Atty. Fidel Borja)