BECOMM – Western Cape is a Servizio Civile Universale project abroad promoted by OPES in the Western Cape region of South Africa, with activities carried out mainly between Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Durban. The project was created with the aim of contributing to the strengthening of social inclusion through educational, social, sports, and community initiatives aimed at children, young people, and people in vulnerable conditions.
Included in the programme “Insieme nel mondo con OPES”, the project falls within interventions dedicated to promoting inclusion, participation, and the development of territorial networks capable of generating concrete opportunities for local communities.
Project Objectives
The project aims to increase levels of social inclusion in the territory of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, promoting inclusive activities in both sports and social‑educational contexts.
In particular, the project intends to:
- analyse the social needs of the territory and the main challenges affecting children, young people, and vulnerable populations;
- support training pathways for social workers active in the field of inclusion;
- strengthen local infrastructures and social networks through events, meetings, round tables, and community activities;
- promote inclusive and socialising activities in university contexts and in the townships;
- enhance social and digital communication as a tool for awareness‑raising, participation, and dissemination of project results.
Main Activities
The activities planned within BECOMM – Western Cape are articulated and multidimensional.
A first area of intervention concerns field research, through data collection, questionnaires, needs analysis, territorial mapping, preparation of reports, and dissemination of results.
A second area concerns training for social workers, with support for planning training interventions, preparing educational and communication materials, organising classes, and monitoring activities.
The project also includes actions to strengthen the local social infrastructure, through support for organising events, logistical activities, preparation of materials, and dissemination of the initiatives promoted in the territory.
A central part of the project is dedicated to carrying out inclusive and socialising activities for children and young people, both in the university contexts of Cape Town and Stellenbosch and within the townships, where sports and community activities become tools for participation, social cohesion, and the prevention of hardship.
Alongside these actions, the project also supports the development of the local social network through round tables, seminars, conferences, and moments of exchange among local organisations, as well as an important component of digital communication and social media, useful for showcasing activities, disseminating materials, and highlighting the results achieved.
Impact on the Territory and Beneficiaries
The project operates in complex contexts marked by strong social inequalities, contributing to the creation of more inclusive, participatory, and accessible spaces. The expected impact concerns both the direct beneficiaries of the activities — particularly children, young people, students, and people in vulnerable conditions — and the local community and associative fabric.
Through the strengthening of social workers’ skills, the promotion of inclusive activities, and the consolidation of territorial networks, BECOMM – Western Cape aims to foster long‑lasting inclusion processes capable of generating educational, relational, and community benefits.
The project also contributes to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), promoting learning, participation, and growth opportunities in fragile social contexts.
Training and Growth Opportunities for Volunteers
For volunteer operators, the project represents an experience of strong human, social, and professional value. The young participants actively take part in research processes, organisation, community engagement, social communication, and network‑building, developing transversal skills and operational abilities in international and intercultural contexts.
The service offers concrete opportunities for growth in:
- needs analysis and social monitoring;
- organisation of educational, sports, and community activities;
- digital communication and dissemination;
- teamwork and cooperation in multicultural contexts;
- managing relationships with organisations, operators, and beneficiaries.
The experience requires adaptability, a sense of responsibility, flexibility, and the ability to work in a team, while offering in return an intense training pathway oriented toward active citizenship, international solidarity, and the development of skills useful for the volunteers’ personal and professional future.