Non-profit organization The Sozo Foundation, based in Cape Town, South Africa, has committed to creating opportunities for underprivileged young people in its township community called Vrygrond (free ground) through education, skills development, entrepreneurship, and social enterprise, since 2011. This “small” community of less than a square mile is home to more than 50 000 people with no high school, no clinic, no police station, and very little hope.
In a country flagged with over 62% youth unemployment, extreme levels of poverty, crime, and gangsterism, The Sozo Foundation with its pathways to youth employment, has been consistent in its efforts to develop an ecosystem where youth problems are being solved by youth, for youth, and with youth. Their skills school programs range from construction to baking, beauty, hair, coffee barista, and cutting-edge coding. However, the heart behind Sozo is transformed “whole” people, encapsulated by their name Sozo, meaning “wholeness” in Greek.
Founders, Anton and Elana Cuyler were introduced to Heartstyles in 2013 when they had the opportunity to attend a workshop hosted by Ross Orwin (GM of Heartstyles) and they eventually became accredited facilitators. Gaining a deeper understanding of their own behavior and where it originated had a profound impact on both of them. ‘Experiencing this language, this tool, and its simplicity in our own lives was absolutely transformational, and so we wanted to share our experience with the youth we worked with,’ Anton explains. They believed that helping disadvantaged youth understand why they do the things they do could enhance how they communicate, behave, and develop social skills necessary for the working world and becoming the lead agents of change within their own communities.
The Sozo Foundation took on the challenge and with the help of the Heartstyles team, they created a bespoke, first of its kind, Heartstyles program tailored to the needs of their local youth community. Heartstyles is now a key part of the charity’s staff development as well as their skills program which is aimed at young people between the ages of 16 to 26 who have dropped out of school or employment. Says Elana, ‘When we have our youth graduations, many of them refer to Heartstyles as the wow-moment, describing the positive impact it has had on their lives.’
Heartstyles has become a tool and language embedded deep into Sozo's culture. This has been achieved through aligning their core organizational values with Heartstyles language. Regular staff development workshops are held throughout the year, using the tool or referencing it, and each team within Sozo has their own set of goals and action plans for their Heartstyles journey. It has become a core part of their DNA.
To date, over 1250 young people have graduated from Sozo's skills programs, with a year-on-year rolling average of 82% successful placements into jobs and remaining in jobs 12 months after placement. More than 100 young people have become first generation University undergraduates and today almost 50% of Sozo’s 65 staff are alumni students. The Sozo Foundation is deeply committed to their mission of creating a sustainable ecosystem where youth problems are solved through youth potential. Says Anton Cuyler, Founder and CEO, ‘It takes a village to raise a young person and embrace the embodiment of UBUNTU; we are because you are.’