About Us

Background

MYCDP was established in March 2019 by Thabani Kalala after he relocated to uMzumbe from Durban. As an individual who holds a B.A in Community Development through the University of South Africa, Thabani mobilized young men and women to research about the standards of health within the community. What they discovered was that the community of Mtwalume was high on HIV, STI, TB and many young people were complaining about youth empowerment being neglected within the greater uMzumbe. To address these social ills profoundly, the MYCDP team then registered an organization and started by doing home visits with the aim of referring clients to the then Turton Clinic (Mfundo Arnold Lushaba CHC). This is where MYCDP started doing kids clubs and by the end of 2019 the kids club had over 50 children attending.

 MYCDP hosted a first Christmas party for over 50 kids in Dingimbiza. The following year the kids club grew into a Zulu Dance group where community members started hiring these kids to perform in their traditional ceremonies. From there on, MYDP approached Zibonele Secondary school to start doing life skill sessions (Youth Clubs). From 2021 to date MYCDP has been doing programs at Zibonele Secondary School and in the beginning of 2025, a relationship was formed with Nomakhanzana Primary School where life skill sessions and team building activities are facilitated with grade 7 Learners with the aim of capacitating and preparing them for high school. By 2022 MYCDP was fortunate to partner with Generation G (a coalition of three organizations which are ACTIVATE, Action Aid SA and SONKE Gender Justice) with the aim of facilitating three long-term objectives, namely:

• A growing number of young people are mobilized to promote gender justice and prevent GBV online and offline (ACTIVATE)
• Decision makers increasingly adopt, adapt, implement and are accountable for gender transformative and youth-inclusive policies and laws (SONKE Gender Justice)
• Civil Society is more united, connected, resilient, effective, gender transformative and youth-inclusive (Action Aid SA)

In the past 5 years MYCDP has serviced over 2000 people through various programs ranging from community dialogues, school-based campaigns, clinical referrals, kids clubs, youth clubs, provincial GBV IZIMBIZO, sports, team building activities, home visits and educational support. The organization is currently led by three full time members and two volunteers. MYCDP has never been financially funded.

Vision

To have a community that has young people in the forefront in the fight against social ills, an economically uplifted and healthy society that cares and provides response mechanisms for its challenges.

Mission

To continuously capacitate young people, provide platforms for society to benefit from information and consistently learn and be updated with new developments.

Objectives

• To promote a sustainably, economically and resourcefully competent community that cares for its future, 
• To empower young people by providing skills development and educational support,
• To facilitate community integration with government departments,
• To strengthen health awareness within the community.

Our achievements

1. We hosted the first ward Heritage Day event in Ward 15 in September 2019
2. The first youth led organization to open and sustain school programs with Zibonele Secondary School 
3. Used its capacity of networking to provide job opportunities to over 25 young people through referring people for voluntarily male circumcision through JHPIEGO
4. Hosted youth dialogues in iSbanini, Dingimbiza and Nomakhanzana in the past three years since 2022 with Generation G for Gender Justice playing a huge role in helping us in the fight against GBV
5. Partnered with Gen G to host a provincial IMBIZO at Sbanini Hall
6. Organized Campaigns including the SHO Bafo Ugrand? program aimed at helping men rise above mental health issues.
7. Created and sustained relations with various stakeholders including Generation G, ACTIVATE, Action Aid SA, SONKE, uMzumbe Local Municipality (Special programs office), uMzumbe Department of Social Development, Civil Society organizations, Zibonele Secondary School and the community of uMtwalume

Challenges

• Lack of financial aid and resources has hindered the organization as many programs and activities depend in finances.
• Lack of incentives 
• MYCDP does not have an office (work from Directors home).
• Shortage of branding.

Strengths

• Mobilization
• Facilitation of programs
• Planning, Organizing, Leading and Controlling programs
• Creating and sustaining relations
• Partnering
• Reporting
• Networking

Weaknesses

• Not being able to attend some initiatives organized by our partners because MYCDP does not have access to its own transport
• We have a small team which minimizes our reach