By: Natasha Archary
Steve Zwane, Founder and Chairperson of the Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development (YLED) joins Gugulethu Mfuphi on Kaya Biz to share how volunteering can shape the hearts and minds of young people.
Zwane says his observation regarding most unemployed youth is that they feel despondent and don’t believe in themselves. Often it’s because a lot of the youth don’t have the opportunity or capacity to gain skills which will make them employable.
“When young people are put into programmes and are given the opportunity to express themselves, you’ll see a remarkable difference, not only in how they see themselves, but in their views of the country and the optimism they have, because they feel they are making a difference in driving the economy for the better.”
Passionate about youth, Zwane says volunteering can give young people a leg up when looking for employment, by giving them practical hands on experience which is invaluable.
At YLED, the focus is on youth in Grade 11, because it’s the perfect age to show young people that entrepreneurship is possible.
“If young people are armed with the skillset that make them believe in themselves, they can master anything they put their mind to.
What they learn from YLED is not just that it’s possible but the practical approach that, yes you can do it, but entrepreneurship is hard, and it takes a great deal of resilience before you can start looking at the financial side of it, you have to be strong to endure that challenges of business.”
Some of the benefits of volunteering include:
- Build self-esteem
- Broaden their social circle
- Explore and discover new interests
- Gain work experience
- Boosts your CV
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Biz:
Also read: Queens High alleged bullying leads to the death of a student
