What Happens next for South Africa's Young People?

The Talking Point

In the past four weeks, we have commemorated youth month by exploring challenges that young people are facing including unemployment, mental health, what they would do if they were in leaders and the importance of the G20 summit for youth mobilization. Government, business and civil society have outlined some of their commitment to help young people find pathways to become real stakeholders in society.

This morning, we shift our attention to the future and what happens next for this group that makes up a third of the population (20 million under 35). How do we support them while they pursue their economic aspirations? What resources do they have at their disposal that are within reach? Two of our next guests are actively working with young people in developing skills to become active members of society through leadership or social compact programmes, find new economic opportunities and build tools for mental health resilience. One of our guest is actively researching the challenges facing employability programmes designed for young people and how we can overcome the revolving door of employment opportunities not just for this group but every age group. We are joined by...

Guest: Dominique Ralalala - Researcher at the Centre for Social Development in Africa

(She is a researcher and a team member at CSDA working on the Basic Package of Support and other youth-related projects. She is particularly passionate about youth mental health.)

Guest: Tebogo Molapisane - Co Founder & Director at Amathuba Collective

(Amathuba Collective is a social enterprise providing phone based mental health support to young people in work experience / employment programmes)

Guest: Siphelele Chirwa - Chief Executive Officer of Activate! Changemakers