1

Contents
1. About Conquest For Life 2. Directors Report 3. Our Projects 3.1 Youth At Risk 3.2 Building Bridges Diversion Project 3.3 Youth Enrichment Project 3.4 Just For Kids 3.5 Arts & Culture (Siyasizana) 3.6 Computer Training 3.7 Reathusana Youth Child Justice Project 3.8 Victim Offender Conference 3.9 Young Mothers Project 3.10 Exchange Programme 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 2

4. Office and Staff 5. Financial Report 6. Funders

15 16 20

1. About Conquest For Life Conquest 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. The Organisation has expanded its Westbury facilities by opening four new branches in other disadvantaged communities, i.e., the communities of Soweto, Ennerdale, Orange Farm and ReigerPark. Conquest 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. Conquest For Life started in a dynamic, predominantly coloured community, it is characterized by an unemployment rate of over 80%, a very high school dropout rate, extreme family stress, poverty, very limited recreational facilities and substance abuse. The following is a reflection of most of the townships in South Africa. The severe lack of extra-curricular and recreational activities, mean that children and young people spend a lot of time on the streets bloming (loafing/hanging around) or sitting in crammed flats. Conquest For Life believes that bad kids are not born they are made, which means they can remade. As violence, bad manners and gangsterism are learned; so can good self-presentation, love and peaceful ways of resolving conflict. 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 Self 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. Strengthening Family Structures

One of the main problems in the townships is the lack of family values and poor family structures and environments. Single parent families headed by the mother are common, leaving young men without positive male role models. 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 Structures

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. Youth Development & Empowerment

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.

1. Directors Report The past two years have been very challenging for every one in the country and people all over the world. We have seen various things happening all around us. The only thing that is constant is change. In order for any one to survive in this day and age, you have to remain with the times change. Over the past 13 years I have learned a lot and I have also made many mistakes. Every time I make a mistake I remember the words of Dr Cooper that sounds fresh like yesterday, Glen, we are and we will make mistakes but we should learn from our mistakes. All of us here at Conquest learn from our mistakes and we try and improve on a daily basis. For every setback, there is a comeback. If there is a way into a situation, there is a way out of it. With this in mind I am confident and I believe in the official marketing strategy of this country South Africa, alive with possibilities! The past we have extended Conquest For Life into the East Rand. We have done some work in the east but could not cement the work as we did not have a base to operate from. We have identify a piece of property in Boksburg City and tried to negotiate with the department of public works for space. After we were referred from pillar to post, we decided to rather create our identity into the East Rand. The office in Reiger Park has been set up.

Above: Social Entrepreneur, Award Winner CEO and Founder of Conquest For Life - Glen Steyn

Conquest For Life moved into their own office in Soweto. The organisation further developed their partnership in Eastern Cape and their interest in the US and UK . We also Registered Conquest For Life as a trade mark in the UK, US and SA. The trade mark in the UK was approved and in SA it went Through the last stages as the process in SA is very slow. Myself and Conquest For Life featured in three programs on television this year The Learning Channel, Its my Life on SABC 1 and I was a guest on Kaelo stories of Hope. Towards the middle of 2007, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship listed me as one of ten semi-finalists for the Social Entrepreneur Award 2007 in South Africa. Through the award, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and Ernst & Young seek to recognize and encourage the spirit of social entrepreneurship.

During August 2007, we featured on Kaelo Stories of Hope and it was screened on SABC 2. With limited staff and resources we managed under trying circumstances to maintain and sustain our programs. The Conquest staff members have been fernonminal. Their commitment, enthusiasm and dedication to the mission and vision of the organisation have been undoubtedly GREAT Thank you guys!!

Above: Glen Steyn playing with children in the Just For Kids Program

Our participants and customers have been patient with us as we were faced with many challengers. We promise to deliver a service second to none. We are committed to constantly improve the quality of our service. We are dedicated to quality youth work. To all our donors, funders and partners with whom we are not able to do what we doing, we say Thank you very much Many of you have been walking with us for many years and for that we are grateful. To our latest partners who are coming on board to further strengthening our hands, we say Welcome and thank you for believing in our vision and dream. To the chairperson and the board, I want to thank for you all for your constant faith in my Leadership, thank you for your support. My dream is to build a Conquest For Life for the next 100 years. Conquest For Life must become a household name for the millions of young people all over the world. When one mentions children and young people, there should be a direct link to Conquest For Life. Conquest should be like fresh running water to somebody that has been in the desert for quite some time. Thank you all.

3. Our Projects 3.1 Youth at Risk (YAR) Project The YAR programmes consist of a three week Life Skills Camp, Mentorship Programme and Parent & Community Programme. They focus on youths at risk of getting involved in gangersterism and substance abuse, the unemployed and the youth out of school. The three week Life Skills Camp takes place four times a year. The past year we have managed to facilitate 3 camps that have catered for a total number of 143 participants. Of all those who attended, 54 are now working, 39 went back to school and 36 are out of school and unemployed. 2 of the participants are self-employed and 14 of them we were unable to trace.

Above: Participants on a YAR camp

Since I came back from the camp things have been better at home and they are starting to trust me. I have been promised a job by my uncle because he believes that I am a better person now and that is all thanks to Conquest for life. Desmond Bongane Sitholi wrote during a conflict management evaluation I learned that good conflict can turn bad and you should position yourself safe from it. We should be able to trust each other and work as a group. He said that he will control the conflict that arise and try to avoid bad conflict.

Above: Participants learning a various skills ay the camps

I am 23 years old and I was a participant at the camp 2006 and I have learned so much on how to become my self and to think positive always and to choose write people that will go with my stand of thinking and I did take those work and work with them. Now after I come back from the camp I meet a friend at the camp he was a participant and we did start our organization called STARS OF AFRICA Tshepiso Tsotetsi

3.2 Building Bridges Diversion Project

The building Bridges Diversion Project focuses mainly on youth at risk, be it court referred, problematic and other community youth structures that want to overhaul their past and negotiate sustainable life giving systems, which resolve deep-rooted conflicts, so that in the end, people can claim, we have done it ourselves. Conquest For Life has created opportunities for youth in conflict with the law and at risk youth to educate and gain life skills. These skills are achieved by themselves in a neutral and encouraging environment. During the past year 306 young people were referred by the court, schools, parent and the community at large. 270 successfully completed the program and 36 were referred back to court either because they did not complete the program or they refused to participate in the program. In addition theses young people participated in 3 weekend camps.
The program really helped me to stop taking drugs and doing wrong things. I have leant a lot from the life skill program especially about anger management. Mokgele Dibe

Below: Some of the participants at camp

Below: Learning to trust their peers Above: Overcoming their problems Coming to the diversion program was a big challenge for me because most of the time when I was at home my father used to give me alcohol to drink so that even made me drop out of school so my challenge was that you cant come to the program drunk. When time went by I started telling my father and my mother that I wont drink again because when am drunk I do funny things, so I told my self that I will stop and when we did the different types of Drugs at the diversion program I became aware that what am doing is wrong and with the help of the staff I was able to quite alcohol and taking further steps ahead of me so that I can be respected in the community so thanks to Conquest for life I hope it will continue helping other like me. Brent Watson

3.3 Youth Enrichment Project The Youth Enrichment Project (YEP) consists of three programmes which together empower young people to develop their community in a safe, secure and structured environment, through the strengthening of links between young people, parents, teachers and the wider community. The three programmes focus on after-school activities to develop a sense of self, academic achievement and skills. Typical activities include weekend camps, holiday excursions and trips, a programme of outreach to the community and parent workshops. We had a number of 11 280 children attending the programme this past year. Two camps were held during the school holidays. Over 90% of the children involved in the Project passed their exams.
I like coming to the after care because we do lots of things like spelling test and reading so that we can improve in our English. Thabo I am 12 years old and I have been coming to Conquest For life since 2006. I have learn so much at after care and the most important thing I have learned at Conquest is having friends and teachers that help me with my school work as well as to teach me life skills. On Fridays I am having fun playing with the Teachers. Karabo Mashaba
Above: Children singing and dancing.

Since I started at the conquest for life after care I have been practicing maths and English but I could not speak right so now every Tuesday we do spelling test and it has been improving my English. I enjoy being at the after care program because it really helped me a lot. Tumi Sephiri

Below: Children seeing snow for the first time in Joburg during a holiday camp

I learned to read so nice, to share with other kids mad to respect the kids at the aftercare programs will like to help other children when they need help. Slinile Majozi

3.4 Just For Kids The Just for Kids (JFK) programme brings children from all ages and culture together through play. The programme encourages constructive ways of solving conflict and in so doing helps children build their self awareness and to make a friends by starting with a simple hand shake. The games allow the children to express themselves physically and to communicate differently, through play without having to say a word. Every game that is played with the children has a focus theme. Conquest For Life has managed to run the JFK Project within 94 schools. The teachers and principals seem extremely happy with the programme, and most of the schools have asked us to facilitate the JFK programme with the whole school. We had 172 200 children participate in the sessions during the year.

The JFK is good for us because while they are teaching us every week we are changing our lives and learning to stand for ourselves. Faith Sekgobela from Spectrum Primary school

Left: Children participating in a Just For Kids Play session.

During the JFK session I have learned that we should respect one another and share emotions. Imaan Holmes from Bernard Isaacs Primary grade 7D

I have learned how to trust someone and make someone trust you. You guys should always come to our school because you motivate most of our learners and you guys are great. I wouldnt mind to be one of you guys you Rock! Hazel Hilmer from Riverlea Secondary grade 11E5

Conquest For Life are proud to have a Partnership with the following schools:

I learned about Trust and he had realized that he need to trust him self first then he can trust the others, then Mpho said for her and the family to be unite all the time the must they had to build a better relationship that has love, caring and supportive. John

Above: Children at Westbury Primary School.

I am 17 years old and in grade 11 at Skhumbuzo Secondary school. I love just for kids program because the program helped me to understand other kids much better and I am very positively, the facilitator helps me to understand life to be successful. Thoko Nkabinde

10

3.5 Arts & Culture The Siyasizana Project focuses on the arts and culture and targets children and youth in the community. "Siyasizana" is a Zulu word and it means we help each other". These young people are at risk of getting involved in gangsterism and drug abuse, of getting in trouble with the law and developing social problems at school. The project focuses on youth from the community that would like to make a change in their life. The arts and culture program takes place every Thursday where the children learn how to write poetry, draw, dance and create crafts. Children were taught how to write poems, do things with their hands and to dance. As most of the children from the Township, they know how to dance and many times the children teach the teachers a move or two. The children have started becoming more creative and writing their own poems. The nature of the content of the poems includes families, flowers, love and about Conquest for Life.

Above: Children displaying their talents

dont want to miss Thursday lesson because I like drawing the most and painting Reabetso Mokwa I am 7 years old and in grade 2. I love Arts and culture because I love home language and I am proud to be a Zulu boy. I have tough other kids at after care how Amazulu do dance during the celebration at Natal. I love to learn other people culture because it is important to speak all language and during the lesson we had done few of other culture history. Brain Monane

Above: A artist in the making.

Above: some of the things children are making.

11

3.6 Computer Training Centre

Above: Participants in the program

The Computer training courses provides members of the community an opportunity develop their computer literacy skills and to upgrade their skills. Despite our challenges with power failures, non payment of fees and the biggest challenge, the ever changing computer hardware and software. During the this most recent financial year we managed to train 252 students,19 of whom are now working, 16 are still unemployed and 3 have decided to study further. 200 of students were part of the After Care program who get trained every Wednesday in computers

My advanced computer training this far is okay. I learned about shortcut keys. New = control and N, opens a new page. I also learned how to work on two documents at the same time using the window function than clicking compare side by side. It saves time. I also learned how to draw up a register. Shireen Fortune
Left: Participants hard at working

Warren wrote the following about the computer Course: The past three days has been up to standards, because our trainer john has thought me some crucial information I wasnt aware about. The first day I came here I felt abet nervous, my expectations is to understand what computer has to offer me, and to obtain my certificate during the duration. At the end of each day I definitely obtained some valuable infofmation, because the trainer is very lenient.

12

3.7 Reathusana Youth Child Justice Project Reathusana is a Sotho word and it means helping each other. The project targets young offenders awaiting trial under the age of 18 and aims at rehabilitating young people while incarcerated. The project is designed to monitor and further develop young people's character and change their mindsets through a variety of programmes, which are delivered by trained enthusiastic young people from Conquest for life. Throughout the year, Conquest For Life managed to work with 856 inmates from various prisons such as Leeu Kop in Fourways, Johannesburg, Leeu Hof in Vereeninging and Johannesburg Correctional Services (Sun City) We facilitated Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays and accommodate for both females and males. As part of our engagement with the affected youths, we delivered a total of 144 life skills session with the inmates.

Above: One on one session

I am 20 years old. I have gain the knowledge in problem solving and learned how to face my problem. I would apply the skills that I have received from Conquest For Life as a key to my success. Mphikeleli Mthembu Below : Participants in the program

Being in prison is not a good thing but when the ladies come to facilitate they give me hope that I can still go out there and make a difference in my own life as well as others lives. Audrey Female Juvenile

The following e mail was received after one of the participants completed the program: Hey there Otteley hope u fyn,i finally got out of prison in October and Im currently at home in Zimbabwe, if everything woks out fine, I will be leaving 4 Ireland sometimes in may. I got your address from your website, just wanted to say thank you so much for the support you gave, I believe everything in life happens 4 a reason, I did a lot of growing up during my incarceration, and I think I m a beta person now send my love to Shantel and also Matumelo u guys were just great. A million thanx once again Simo

13

3.8 Victim Offender Conference Victim Offender Conferencing involves mediation and is based on the Restorative Justice Principles. We work with the courts, South African Police Service (SAPS) and the community in combating crime, by accepting cases on referral for mediation. The main purpose of the VOC project is to mediate between the offender and victim in order to break the cycle of offending or abuse. This project has been a success especially in resolving disputes of warring gangs, family, friends and neighbours. A number of 71 cases were referred to the organisation of which 41 were successfully mediated, 8 of the cases were withdrawn by the victim, and 16 cases were referred back to court because parties could not reach an agreement or they never followed the process of mediation. .

Photos: Participants at one of the courts We did not know what to do when we had marriage problems but when my wife took me to court I heard about Conquest for life and I asked the social worker to give me a second chance to go to Conquest for life where we managed to sort out our problems . Eunice and Robert Moshori When I was refereed from court I had a problem with abusing my wife but since I started to go for voc counselling I was able to talk with my wife and now I understand the pain I did cause for all those years. We solved all that so now I am doing what I was supposed to do all those years. This program VOC helped me a lot with me to keep my family together. Gladys and Douglas Duma

14

3.9 Young Mothers Project Young Mothers Project brings young single mothers together into a safe environment where they can share their experiences, problems and help each other to solve the problems facing them. During the year we managed to run 134 weekly sessions, 2 camps and 3 workshops where we covered topics on sisterhood, gender and development and goal setting. In addition, we facilitated 2 training sessions which covered leadership development and computer training.

I prefer to come at conquest for life and meet other ladies that have the same problems as me the program also empower us as ladies to become something in life. Takalani

Above: Participants at a training camp. I started to attend the she project last year, and I was having problem with family but when I was with the younger mothers I felt free and to build a relationship with them. I found a help from Lerato, Mpho, and Matshidiso. Happy Sebalane I am 21 years old and coming to S.H.E program helped me a lot because I did not had right friend until I meet the facilitators of S.H.E program I had to talk to them about me and the problem I have which is Alcohol and they gave me advise on what to do and I took that. I did not go to school due to the illness I had so now I am okay. The ladies helped me to find the job at I am working with the contracts we are putting street in our community and I am travelling with the company I am working with because of the job well done. Lindiwe Mabaso Right: Young ladies in a training session

15

3.10 Exchange Programme This year, we had 14 youth workers from Northern Ireland, or as they like to pronounce it Norn Iron, join Conquest for Life for 3 weeks as part of an exchange programme. Each one of them had a different experience and engaged with various members of our team. The visiting exchange candidates were given work placements at the Conquest for Life branches in Westbury, Soweto, Orange Farm and Ennerdale. Feedback from the Irish volunteers indicated that they developed a greater awareness of how easy it is to take things for granted and how important it is for people in South Africa to make the most of what they have. During their stay we visited Kruger Park, and Gods window, which was beautiful, and a great time was had by all. It was a wonderful experience having the Irish youth at our organisation and many of the staff are pleased to have made new long term friends. Exchanges with Conquest for Life are run with youths in Northern Ireland and USA. Exchanges between countries run on alternate years and we are always looking for new opportunities, as the lessons that can be applied to our communities and youth are incredibly valuable.

Below: Young people at the Hector Petersom Memorial

Above: Visitors from Northern Ireland

Hello my name is Robert and I am one of 14 youth workers who came over from Northern Ireland or as we like to pronounce it Norn Iron for 3 weeks as part of an exchange programme, we have been here for two weeks now and its been great. We visited a few places on our first week here e.g. Kruger Park the animals were amazing and if you like impala, I would recommend going because you will see a lot of them

Carlos from Veracruz Mexico said that Volunteer opportunity in my life has just begun with CFL. I like to give my time and knowledge to contribute in the process of making others lifes better and at the same time end rich my life with the understanding of new cultures, people and places.

Left: The real exchange South Africa and Northern Ireland

16

4. Office and Staff Conquest For Life have offices in various Townships within Johannesburg and servers over 30 communities which includes: Westbury, Newclare, Coronationville, Bosmont, Claremont, Montclare, Newlands, Riverlea Ext 1 & 2, Noordgesig, MeadowlandsZone 3, 5,9 & 10, Orange Farm, Finetown, Platfontein, Vlakfontein, Ennerdale, Lawlaey, Lenasia South, Grasmere, to name but a few.
Below: Soweto Office in Meadowlands

Above: Westbury Office and the Head Office

Below: Dreamlands Campsite, where dreams become a reality.

Above: Staff of Conquest For Life

Above: Ennerdale Office in Ennerdale Ext 9 Below: Orange Farm Office in Ext1 Below: Reigerpark office in Boksburg

4.

17

5. Financial Report

18

19

20

21

6. Funders

Special Thanks to our Funders

AECI Limited Australian Embassy Cadbury Schweppes CTP Ltd Eric Samson Foundation Fairheads Trust Selwage Shireens Fast Food SR AW Educational & Benefit Trust Suzette Gordon Trident SA Unitrans

Gauteng Provincial Government Social Development Global Ministries/ Kerkinactie Global Giving Glomail Gold Circle Hans Merensky Foundation Hollard Insurance Josephs Veggies KPMG Le Carbone SA Lesley & Paul Millhouser L.V and I. Middleton Charity Fund National Lotteries Fund Pioneer Foods SA Employees Guild Wimpy Charitable Trust WK Kellogg Foundation

22

Head Office: Conquest House 2nd Floor, 21 Price Street, Newclare 2093 P O Box 88378, Newclare 2112 Tel: + 27 (0) 11 473 1651 Fax: + 27 (0) 86 688 9303 E Mail: info@conquest.org.za Web Site: www.conquest.org.za

23