Queenstown is a vibrant, developing town in the heart of the Eastern Cape. It is situated to the north west of East London (about 2 hours by road).

However, the poverty levels in Queenstown is evident in its sprawling informal settlements and scarcity of resources particularly in education and social development.

The reliance of a large percentage of the population on government social assistance is evident in the endless queues for pension and grant payments. Frail, aged men and women often start queuing at 6.00am in temperatures often below 0^OC in winter.

The unemployment levels in Queenstown is very high ranging from 30% to as high as 80% in some communities. HIV/AIDS is also rising dramatically. However, skills and educational levels remain relatively low. Many have opted for informal trade on pavements to earn an income. Skills development and training programmes are a critical need in the area. Given the significant period of economic and political marginalisation, educational and skills programmes will need to start with basic courses which are linked to viable income generation activities in order to facilitate both skills training and economic development. The people are motivated to develop themselves. PASCaP's first training programme in Queenstown attracted nearly 200 interested persons. However, there is a lack of training programmes which take into account the specific needs of those overcoming the challenges of poverty and historical inequality. Should this not be addressed soon, the social and economic disparities in this region, as elsewhere, will grow and not diminish.

The after school projects established in this region are:

1. Engcobo After School Care Project in Engcobo (155 km from Queenstown)

2. Ngqanda in Lady Frere (35km from Queenstown)

3. Thembelihle, Mlungisi (in Queenstown)

4. Ekwezi, Mlungisi

5. Masakhe, Ezibeleni (10km from Queenstown)

6. Phumelela, Ezibeleni

These projects are all registered as non-profit organisations. However, they have not yet been registered as Places of Care as their registration applications have yet to be processed by the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development. The Places of Care registration applications have been submitted in January 2005. Follow-up work with the local district offices is progress in order to track the applications.

Given the resource-scarce operating environment, the 6 after school care projects experience difficulty in maintaining their services.

Two new projects have therefore been developed in the region:

1. Ubuntu Soap-Making Project

PASCaP is currently supporting the development of a soap-making project in the Queenstown region in order to:

2. Masikhule Sikhuselane - a human rights project for children and youth

This project has been successful in both income generation for the after school projects, and in promoting child protection in the community. A number of child sexual and physical abuse cases where referred to relevant authorities as a result, and many children learnt skills in how to support their peers affected by violence.

Click here to read more about the learning and development programmes being offered in the Queenstown region.

To support the after school projects in Queenstown by buying soap or making a general contribution, please click here.

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Helping communities to help themselves...

PASCaP's learning programmes in Queenstown have given many unemployed the opportunity to acquire new skills which have enabled them to generate an income whilst developing children and young people in their communities.

PASCaP 's first group of Eastern Cape graduates
2001