The Western Cape Government has officially launched the Planet Youth initiative in Mitchells Plain, aiming to shift how communities support young people growing up in high-risk environments.

The launch brought together families, caregivers, teachers, and local stakeholders for an open dialogue on what it will take to build safer, more supportive spaces for youth.

Originally developed in Iceland, Planet Youth is now used in over 19 countries. It’s an evidence-based prevention model that helps communities identify the underlying drivers of risk among young people and design targeted interventions in response.

The approach is rooted in data — and in working directly with the people affected. The initiative is being rolled out across the Western Cape, supported by multiple government departments including Health and Wellness, Education, Social Development, and Cultural Affairs and Sport.

It also involves municipalities, law enforcement, the UCT, and local organisations — with Mitchells Plain now added to a growing list of participating areas.

In April and May 2025, more than 50,000 learners from 123 schools across the province took part in Planet Youth’s core survey. This includes learners from Mitchells Plain, Atlantis, Athlone, Langa, Philippi, Gugulethu, Hanover Park, Kraaifontein, and Nyanga, as well as schools in the West Coast and Garden Route districts.

The data collected will inform area-specific action plans to address youth risks and strengthen community-based supports.Gwen Dereymaeker, Director of the Western Cape Government’s Violence Prevention Unit, said the aim is not to focus on individual behaviour, but rather on the broader environments in which young people are growing up.

“The aim is not to single out individual children, but to empower entire communities with meaningful data. This allows for co-designed solutions that build resilience, reduce risk, and strengthen support networks for young people. It’s about listening to their realities and acting together.”

Planet Youth was first piloted in George in 2023 and is now being scaled province-wide as part of the Western Cape’s broader area-based safety strategy, which launched in August 2023.

The initiative focuses on prevention and aims to strengthen the protective factors that help young people avoid long-term harm.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said the initiative is part of a longer-term strategy to reduce intergenerational poverty and violence by investing early in youth well-being.

“By investing in the well-being of our youth through a coordinated, data-led approach, we can create safer, healthier and more prosperous communities for generations to come. This is more than a programme, it is a call to action for parents, educators, leaders, and community members to work with our youth in preparing them for their future. If we offer them the skills and knowledge they need to get jobs, we can future-proof our province and economy.”

With results from the 2025 surveys expected in August, participating communities are preparing to use the findings to drive real, local change informed not by assumptions, but by evidence and lived experience.

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

Weekend Argus 

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