City Year South Africa

24/06/2026

This week, we’re passing the mic to one of our incredible Service Leaders, Thato Selahla, to find out what’s currently on her bookshelf!

Thato is diving deep into the classic, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey. 🧠💡

Her biggest takeaway so far? The power of being proactive.

It’s all about realizing you have the power to choose your response to any situation, taking initiative, and focusing on what you can control! Being proactive isn't just a habit; it's a mindset shift that changes how we lead, serve, and grow every single day.

💬 Over to you: Have you read this book? What does being proactive mean to you in your daily life? Let us know in the comments!

Gauteng Department of Education

24/06/2026

17/06/2026

What does it take to heal and build a life filled with love that actually counts? ✨

For , our Service Leader, Thulisile Pelesa, recently picked up "Love that Counts" by Wilma Luimes, and the lessons have been eye-opening. The book explores the journey of healing from destructive relationships and discovering God’s love in the process.

Thulisile’s biggest takeaways?
1️⃣ Understanding the difference between functional and dysfunctional relationships.
2️⃣ Learning how to safely pull away from toxicity.
3️⃣ Elevating her emotional intelligence to foster healthier, life-giving connections.

Healthy relationships are the key to a better life! 💡

We are excited to be part of the campaign with multiple partners encouraging us to read. Have you read anything lately that changed your perspective on relationships? Let us know in the comments! 👇

YearBeyond The Gauteng Department of Education

16/06/2026

It’s easy to take a classroom for granted until you remember what it cost to sit in one freely. The students of 1976 sacrificed everything to demand a fair, just education.

Inspired by their selfless sacrifice, our Service Leaders marched through Phiri, Soweto, spreading a powerful message of "Youth 4 Change," "Honouring the past," and being a "Voice for the voiceless." They reminded the community that those in 1976 "marched for our future"—and today, we must protect that future. 🪧❤️

To make a tangible mark and carry the spirit of national youth service forward, the team put those words into action with a community clean-up campaign. This is "Youth serving youth" and proving the true "Power of service." 🧹✨

Serving our communities is our tribute in action to the class of 1976. We are keeping their spirit alive, not just in memory, but through active citizenship, and selfless service. 🇿🇦🙏📚

16/06/2026

History was changed by young people who refused to be silent.

Silence was never an option for the youth of 1976. Facing systemic injustice, they used the ultimate power they had: their voices. 🗣️❤️

As young leaders today, we owe it to them to never let our voices waver when it comes to equality, education, and social justice. We pay homage to the giants of the past by standing tall in our service today. To the class of '76: we hear you, we thank you, and we will keep speaking out.

16/06/2026

In 1976, ordinary young people did something extraordinary—they stood up against injustice because they knew their future, and the future of education, was worth fighting for. Today, as City Year Service Leaders, we don’t just remember their sacrifice; we carry their torch. Every day we step into schools to support the next generation, we are honoring the path they cleared for us.

Their courage is our blueprint. Let's keep moving forward. 🇿🇦✨

10/06/2026

For this week's , we are highlighting how our Service Leaders use fast-paced, illustrated books like Freaky and Fearless to inspire a vibrant reading culture among The Gauteng Department of Education learners in Grade 3 and 4 learner. 📘✨Recommended for children aged 9–12, these books combine a dynamic comic-book style with imaginative narratives that captivate young minds. By using engaging stories to instil a love for reading—both for school and for leisure—our Service Leaders help learners discover that books are a great and powerful tool for gaining knowledge, sparking creativity, and embarking on adventures. They are proving that reading is a lifelong habit, built one page at a time. ❤️

Join the movement—pause and read for 30 minutes today! 🕒📖
YearBeyond

10/06/2026

For us, June isn’t just a page on the calendar. It is the heartbeat of our mission.

Fifty years ago, the youth of 1976 stood on the front lines against injustice, risking everything for the promise of a free and equal South Africa. They proved that young people are not just the future—they are the catalyst for immediate, powerful change.

So, what does Youth Month mean to City Year?

It means remembrance turned into action.🛠💡🤝

We believe the ultimate way to honour the sacrifices of 1976 is to carry the baton forward. Our "pay it forward" approach to service is a direct bridge from the legacy of the past to the promise of the future.

To City Year, Youth Month means:

✅Honouring the Foundation: Acknowledging that the doors open to us today were unlocked by the courage of those who came before.

✅Activating Leadership and Responsible Citizenship: Equipping today’s youth with the tools, resilience, and leadership skills to tackle current societal challenges through national service.

✅Building the Next Legacy: Challenging our Service Leaders to ask: What mark will we leave for the generations coming after us?

The youth of 1976 changed the course of history. Today, City Year South Africa is committed to developing the leaders who will shape its future. We don't just remember history; we actively build on it.

Let’s serve with pride. Let’s lead with purpose. Let’s pay it forward. 💪✨