Life Orientation Common Assessment Task: Part A
Safer Spaces: A Collaborative Imperative
Jessica Spalding-Jones
Question 4
Content and Presentation - Project Plan
Outline of project justification and community needs (4.1.1. and 4.1.2)
Figure 2
Figure 1
, The Cape Flats is an expansive area situated
to the southeast of the central business district
of Cape
Town,
South
Africa. The
Cape Flats Figure 5
Figure 3 is one of the most violent and dangerous
communities in South Africa. (Cape Flats, Wikipedia, 2022) Almost all the
communities of the Cape Flats are poverty- Figure 4
stricken. This leads to serious social problems, including a high rate of
unemployment and extremely high levels of gang activity (Cape Flats, Wikipedia,
2022). Due to the violence, many
people, especially children, are affected
by the fear and trauma of the gang-
related violence where these people live.
The fear and trauma have led to
increased suicidal thoughts, depression,
Figure 6
and anxiety amongst the youth
(’Stripped of being a child,’ suicidal thoughts on rise amid Cape Flats gang violence,
2021). This is related to the fact that people in this community are mentally scarred
by the fear of possibly becoming yet another victim of the gang-related violence
(’Stripped of being a child,’ suicidal thoughts on rise amid Cape Flats gang violence,
2021). In a country such as South Africa, gangsterism adds a complex community
dynamic. As trust in the government is low, unemployment and poverty rife, gangs
and related criminal activity provide access to much needed jobs and money.
However, due to the violence connected with gang-related activity, many people in
the community are negatively affected. Children are particularly vulnerable to
exposure to violence. They can be traumatised if they witness or are affected by the
violence. Moreover, traumatised children are also vulnerable to being persuaded to
join these dangerous gangs, where their impressionable minds will be introduced to
things that can be detrimental to the mental health, such as drugs, guns, violence
and death (Shields, Nadasen and Pierce, 2008).
Safer Spaces: A Collaborative Imperative
Jessica Spalding-Jones
Question 4
Content and Presentation - Project Plan
Outline of project justification and community needs (4.1.1. and 4.1.2)
Figure 2
Figure 1
, The Cape Flats is an expansive area situated
to the southeast of the central business district
of Cape
Town,
South
Africa. The
Cape Flats Figure 5
Figure 3 is one of the most violent and dangerous
communities in South Africa. (Cape Flats, Wikipedia, 2022) Almost all the
communities of the Cape Flats are poverty- Figure 4
stricken. This leads to serious social problems, including a high rate of
unemployment and extremely high levels of gang activity (Cape Flats, Wikipedia,
2022). Due to the violence, many
people, especially children, are affected
by the fear and trauma of the gang-
related violence where these people live.
The fear and trauma have led to
increased suicidal thoughts, depression,
Figure 6
and anxiety amongst the youth
(’Stripped of being a child,’ suicidal thoughts on rise amid Cape Flats gang violence,
2021). This is related to the fact that people in this community are mentally scarred
by the fear of possibly becoming yet another victim of the gang-related violence
(’Stripped of being a child,’ suicidal thoughts on rise amid Cape Flats gang violence,
2021). In a country such as South Africa, gangsterism adds a complex community
dynamic. As trust in the government is low, unemployment and poverty rife, gangs
and related criminal activity provide access to much needed jobs and money.
However, due to the violence connected with gang-related activity, many people in
the community are negatively affected. Children are particularly vulnerable to
exposure to violence. They can be traumatised if they witness or are affected by the
violence. Moreover, traumatised children are also vulnerable to being persuaded to
join these dangerous gangs, where their impressionable minds will be introduced to
things that can be detrimental to the mental health, such as drugs, guns, violence
and death (Shields, Nadasen and Pierce, 2008).
