Education students Mr Luthando Molefe of UKZN and Ms Kgotsofalang Mei of the University of Fort Hare presented online career guidance to more than 143 matric candidates and out-of-school youth from Secunda in Mpumalanga.

The youngsters were invited by #BeYouthFullClub, an organisation that aims to assist marginalised individuals through educational programmes. 

Founder and CEO of #BeYouthFullClub Mrs Lerato Makuwa-Dayimani said, ‘The Youth Club’s focus is to ensure we shift young people’s minds from stigmas and past life experiences to embracing who they are. We had plans to visit rural community schools and provide career guidance sessions to learners from Grade 9 upwardss who have matriculated but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we reverted to having online career guidance sessions.’

Every Tuesday afternoon, the Club hosts online sessions using WhatsApp where speakers unpack different issues such as the applications process, and personal and professional attributes and skills needed, including an analyses of the labour market. The Youth Club targets individuals from deep rural townships where such information does not usually reach them.

Said Molefe:‘Our country needs young people to be active participants/citizens in embracing the spirit of Ubuntu in the name of helping and changing other people’s lives by providing them with relevant information they can use to change their lives and those of others. We are grateful for the opportunity.’

Mei added: ‘Many young people are sitting at home not because they do not qualify or they are not capable but because they lack information. It is up to us as Education change makers to try to intervene by means of providing information to those who need it.’

Both students plan to collaborate in the future on community engagement issues.