Addressing hidden challenges that SA's youth face

IOL News

a day ago

As South Africa marks Youth Month, the national conversation tends to focus – rightly – on rising youth unemployment. But less attention tends to be given to the often invisible barriers standing in the way of young people: limited access to mentorship and basic life-skills, real-world career guidance and support networks needed to bridge the gap between school and success.
There's a lot that can be – and needs to be – done to guide and support young people in South Africa to achieve their goals of bright futures, even in the face of high unemployment. Sharing wide-ranging lifeskills and guidance in workplace skills will give youngsters confidence, an ability to communicate effectively, an understanding of their accountability and a clear vision of their chosen career paths. I believe that with increased informal and formal investment in our youth, we can reduce unemployment and give more young people hope for the future.
Opportunities may be rare in many parts of the country, but youth can be encouraged to seek out those that do exist – whether it is support, training or stipend work, from government, NPOs, individual mentors, businesses or any organisations – and make the most of them. Within our tertiary institutions, there are always ways to get involved and reach out for support when needed.
One of PROTEC's many alumni, Tracy Nyongwana from PROTEC Tongaat, faced major obstacles in her life, growing up in the village of Ndwedwe, but she overcame them with persistence and grit. She passed matric with six distinctions, achieved two degrees and has embarked on a promising STEM career. Tracy always made the most of the opportunities she encountered. She says that wherever she could, she reached out to organisations and people who were in a position to support or guide her. Her advice to young people facing challenges is, 'Get involved and reach out. There's so much support available if you look for it. You don't have to go through your trials alone.'
With this in mind, people who live or work with youth can help them to find their purpose, even in the face of limited opportunities. By working with them through their values, abilities and interests and by encouraging them to make a difference within their communities, they could be well on their way to seeing themselves in a whole new light and finding as yet untapped opportunities.
Another personal skill that always stands young people in good stead is resilience, which can be taught and developed. Helping young people to develop self-awareness and a growth mindset, manage their emotions and practise coping skills for dealing with challenges that include problem-solving, finding support and working to correct negative thinking will make a difference. Following on this is an attitude that is wisely encouraged by one of our tutors is, 'Never retreat – failure is not a death sentence, but laziness and procrastination are your enemies.'
Valuable too, is teaching youth – whether they are unemployed, working or studying – good communication skills and helping them to share their insights and ideas clearly and simply. Good communication skills will set them apart and will help them to think more clearly, sharpening their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Whatever can be done to build the confidence and skills of our young people, whatever their level of education, can be done by all – parents, family, teachers, community leaders, organisations, corporates, NPOs and others. It's possible to inspire and encourage where life has become disheartening; it's crucial to guide and support, finding avenues for small entrepreneurships or building businesses; and it's necessary to remind our youth to be curious, to be persistent, and to remember that someone is rooting for them.