HE IS only 30 years old, but enterprising Soweto youth Thulani Madondo is already at the helm of a burgeoning community development organisation.

Kliptown Youth Programme co-founder, Madondo is one of 16 conscientious young community builders who were born in and around Kliptown, outside Soweto.

His face becomes sad when he speaks about the plight of the youth in Kliptown.

"There is no school, no electricity, no proper sanitation and no clinics," Madondo said, highlighting some of the challenges facing the local community.

"It is very challenging living in Kliptown."

He says this was why the youth-led nonprofit organisation aims its resources at empowering local youths through education.

"Someone who is educated has more confidence than someone who is not," Madondo says.

The programme entails an afternoon tuition session for primary and high school pupils, helping them mostly with homework.

"We currently have 400 children and youths in the programme," Madondo says, adding that volunteers and trained professionals also helped with computer literacy lessons.

Madondo and his colleagues have also established a community library. The books were donated by the community, as have a kitchen where the children are provided with meals.

Despite difficulties with the day-to-day running of the programme, the Kliptown Youth Programme has been able to build several extra classrooms and an office block.

One of Madondo's fellow leaders, Nelisiwe Walaza, 21, is herself a product of the programme and now shares responsibilities as one of the KYP's workers.

Walaza says: "I started with the programme when it began and after I finished matric the programme paid for my tertiary studies."

In addition to helping with the marketing for the programme, Walaza helps with the Grade 7 English and mathematics afternoon classes. - nkosin@sowetan.co.za