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AT an age when they are at their most vulnerable and easily influenced, one group of vibrant young people have made it their mission to reach out to the youth in various communities around South Africa, with special focus on the Cape Flats, to spread a message of hope and light.

They are Khanya, which directly translated from Xhosa means "light".

Khanya was formed in 2005 by Heathfield resident Craig Hendrieck.

"The idea came while I was still a student at Heathfield High," says Craig.

"I found myself challenged by the state of the youth and felt something needed to be done. I was inspired by the words of Jesus in Matthew 5, which say, 'You are the light of the world, go and shine your light before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your father in heaven.'"

Craig approached the Youth for Christ Ministry about his concerns and they told him to come up with a project and agreed to allow him to operate under their banner. And so Khanya was born, a concept made up of three main areas.

The first being the Khanya life skills project, which has a group of about five or six volunteer school leavers who have been interviewed and chosen to participate in a year long course aimed at developing young people physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

The project, now in its third year, not only develops relationships and helps the members live up to their God-given potential, but also addresses issues that face youth each day, such as self-image, family, substance abuse and sex.

The students become a family of sorts, living together in one house for the entire year, and in partnership with Tokai Spur, they each work two nights a week to earn some extra money.

It is through these types of partnerships that the project stays alive. Local Christian radio station CCFM has sponsored them with a half-hour time slot each week which allows them to reach a broader community, and on completion of the course UNISA awards the members a Certificate in Youth Ministry.

The second part of Khanya is the Khanya Worship Project, made up of young adults who believe in the "power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

"Many of the students who leave the life skills project go on to join the worship project," says Craig. "We minister creatively through drama and dance, with major emphasis on praise and worship and the preaching of God's word.

"We are not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to all those who believe," he continues.

"We want to see the presence of God manifest in our schools and community."

Khanya is about spreading a message and sometimes the best way to spread a message is through song, which is where Khanya the band comes in.

The band is well known in the various communities of the Cape, visiting local schools, spreading the word of God and inspiring other youths to come forward to find out more about the project.

Craig heads up the band and says that the members are brought together by a shared passion to minister the Gospel.

"Through preaching, dance and music we are able to reach out to the youth," he says. "Our sound is high energy praise and worship with a tone of R&B, and young people seem to respond to it."

Khanya is currently raising funds to buy more sound equipment. If you would like to support this project, or if you would like them to visit your area or school, phone Craig on 083 461 1081 or e-mail: khanya.light@yahoo.com.

Join Khanya for the Khanya Rally - "Making HIS praise glorious" - at SMI Church, Concert Boulevard in Retreat on Friday, 2 February from 19:30. Entrance is R10 per person and snacks and drinks will be on sale.

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