​Johannesburg Tourism Company chairman Terry Tselane held an EmpowaYouth Week in Region G with the aim to uplift the youth of Orange Farm at Chris Hani Sports Complex.

It was a week-long event from 23 to 27 May 2022, with nine stages, more than 150 speakers and 1 000 jobs, learning and funding opportunities. The programme looks at the social-economic condition of the youth, bringing tangible opportunities and ensuring youth are not left behind.

This year’s objectives were to get 20 000 youth exposed to business experience, 200 youth in active employment, 1 000 youth in training, 400 youth-owned businesses exposed and assessed and 250 youth in business mentorships.

The youth visited exhibition stands from across different industries. Guest speakers included individuals who plays a vital role in building the society like Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, City of Joburg’s MMC for Economic Development, Cllr Nkululeko Mbundu, actress Sonia Mbele and award-winning journalist Cathy Mohlahlana.

“We are here at this initiative that engages young people about how to access opportunities that change their lives, especially those located in disadvantaged areas who don’t have access to digital infrastructure. I came from the Presidency to actually commit to being part of this programme so that we make it even better next year,” said Minister Gungubele.

The previous year’s event got 259 youth in training and education opportunities, 61 youth in active employment, 60 young entrepreneurs helped with funding or equipment, 25 young entrepreneurs in business mentorship and 24 graduates in internships amongst others.

“We came here to gain enough knowledge and information about how to be entrepreneurs, get bursaries, school opportunities and have an understanding of how things work within the entrepreneurial industry. We also came here to avoid standing at the corners of Orange Farm and smoking or doing illegal activities,” said Region G youngster Phumlani Ngcobo.

The EmpowaYouth event was created in light of the high rate of youth unemployment, socioeconomic transformation requirements and social ills affecting and affected by the youth. This event provides the needed motivation, opportunity brokering and empowering input designed to produce the next generation of leaders

Tselane said during his address that EmpowaYouth should continue giving hope to young people. Youth empowerment is a catalytic tool to tackling youth unemployment.

Project manager Dumisile le Roux said the programme also incorporates a series of masterclasses and workshops, which enables young people to gain practical skills in addition to theoretical knowledge.

“We chose Orange Farm because it is a marginalised and remote community that does not have a lot of employment opportunities for the youth. We also developed opportunities through partnerships with sectors of industry that avail employment and mentorship opportunities to young people,” she said.

The EmpowaYouth team intends to extend the programme to other areas once its model has been fully implemented.

The owner of the Impilo Leather Craft, Sithembiso Baya, said they normally come to the event every year to showcase their products with the hope of selling as many products as possible.

“We are currently situated in Orange Farm because this is where we are born and raised, so we thought we should sell these to our people here in the hood. So far, we have financial problems but we still try to push ourselves until something comes up to better the situation,” he said.

Written by Gontse ‘GeE’ Hlophe