Inner-City Ambassadors
Inner-City Ambassadors is a non-profit internship programme, designed to involve the public in the upgrade of the city and helping in the prevention of crime.
The community development project is open to members of the community from 18 years and older to volunteer. Participants are equipped with urban public space management skills and a monthly allowance. Volunteers perform community service work as inner city ambassadors to promote local community involvement in the long-term regeneration of the inner city.
The program began in 2008 when the Johannesburg Central Police Service approached Afhco to assist them in reducing crime in the inner city. The programme proved effective from the first week. SAPS surveys show crime rates have lowered by 90% in areas patrolled by our CPF volunteers .The programme originally consisted with 14 Community Policing Forum (CPF) Volunteers.
Inner-City Ambassadors seeks to help prevent crime through visual policing and direct links to the police. This will empower members of the community to become facilitators and custodians of public space development, rather than fall into a life of crime.
A new addition to the Inner-City Ambassadors program is the inclusion of adult computer courses in the CityKidz School computer lab. The adult computer course is aimed to develop the Ambassadors basic computer skills over a year, thus making them more employable.
The project aims to:
- Give the youth access to means of formal income and responsibility.
- To create proactive opportunities for the youth rather than a life of crime through boredom.
- To create community role models.
