Upstart is a local youth development project based in Grahamstown aimed at young people in Grades 8 to 10. Based at Grocott's Mail, the project was founded in 2008 as a way of responding to the low levels of literacy which was evident in school performance and the poor matric pass rate. The project aims to expand the abilities of schoolchildren on a variety of levels - including promoting a culture of literacy; developing reading and writing abilities; encouraging inter-school communication in order to break down racial, cultural and language barriers and developing leadership skills amongst the Grahamstown youth by running weekly workshops at each school.

Upstart caters for learners based predominantly in the township and collaborates with them in the co-production of a 16 page tabloid sized newspaper which is published 8 times a year. Through this interactive culture of learning and production, the learners are able to strengthen inter-school communication and develop strong leadership skills that would otherwise be undermined in their school settings.

Currently, Upstart has clubs at 12 schools in Grahamstown and at Ikamvalesizwe Combined School in Kenton-on-Sea. A poetry group of Grade 11 and 12 learners, calling themselves Upstart Plus, also meets weekly under the banner of the project.

Upstart projects for 2011 include:

• Big brother/big sister project with students residing in Atherstone and Jan Smut House's at Rhodes University
• Producing material for the YUNG Amplified show on Rhodes Music Radio
• Weekly workshops for Upstart young women with the Pan African Youth Dialogue
• Self-development workshops using drama and physical training to realise members' potential
• Developing research skills through computer training
• Regular poetry workshops and the production of an Upstart poetry anthology
• Photographic workshops
• Creative writing workshops
• Participation in the National Arts Festival

To donate to Upstart or Advertise in Upstart, contact Upstart Project Manager Shireen Badat on the details below:

Email: upstart@grocotts.co.za or shireen.badat@ru.ac.za
Tel: +27 46 6227222

Donations can be deposited in the following bank account:

Account name: Upstart
Standard Bank
Branch : Grahamstown
Branch code: 050917
Account Number : 061229792