In 2022, the Crossroads Teen Centre in Empangeni celebrated its 13th year of helping equip local youth for their future. The centre which is open from 11am to 5pm Monday to Friday, provide youth with various programmes and services such as study facilities, a computer lab, music room, tutoring assistance, counselling, plus a range of fun social activities.
For high school learners with few resources at home or an empty home until working parents get back in the evening, it provides a safe and fun venue for teens to hang out at during the afternoons. The impact of the centre has been felt by many teens over the past decade, with different teens making comments like – “Last term I was going through so much academically and at home, but I am so grateful to Crossroads which helped me get tutoring sessions and also called in a Councillor to assist me”, “Crossroads has always been that place where I’d forget about everything that’s negative and become a more positive teen”. Access and activities are carefully controlled with pupils needing to register as members and sign in for each visit the centre. The centre’s record attendance on a single afternoon was 84 learners, with approximately 316 members registered that year. The centre is currently rebuilding its numbers which dropped during the Covid restrictions, but continues to make an impact upon the lives of many teens in the area.
Sam Mtshali from i-Sam Tutors assists learners with maths
Each year and the teens impacted is commemorated with a photo board in the passage

Not all activities are academic
