Youth Opportunities South Africa

04/08/2026

This week I had the privilege of supporting the Grade 4 and 5 learners in the Story Skirmish competition, as well as the Grade 6 and 7 learners in the Battle of the Books competition at Molalatladi Primary School.

The learners participated in the City of Johannesburg Libraries Story Skirmish and Battle of the Books programme, an initiative designed to promote literacy, reading comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading. In preparation for the first round of the competition, each team read 10 prescribed books. They were then challenged to answer 30 questions, with only 30 seconds allocated for each response.

Watching the learners work together, think critically, and confidently answer questions was inspiring. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and commitment to reading demonstrated the impact that literacy programmes have on young people.

As a student social worker at Youth Opportunities South Africa (YOSA), I believe literacy is a foundation for learning, personal development, and future opportunities. Reading strengthens communication, critical thinking, confidence, and academic success. Supporting initiatives like these reinforces the importance of creating environments where children are encouraged to read, learn, and reach their full potential.

A heartfelt thank you to the City of Johannesburg Libraries for investing in programmes that inspire young readers, and congratulations to every learner who participated. Your dedication and love for learning are worth celebrating.

By Sebefikile Mthembu

01/07/2026

07/06/2026

✨ On 9 April 2026, Youth Opportunities South Africa (YOSA) proudly joined the Wits NGO Fair — a day buzzing with energy, ideas, and impact!
From the heart of the University of the Witwatersrand, we connected with passionate students eager to shape their future through volunteering and youth development. Every conversation sparked possibility, every handshake opened doors to collaboration, and every moment reminded us why we do what we do.
We also built bridges with inspiring organisations, laying the foundation for powerful partnerships that will amplify our shared mission of community impact. A highlight? Our live feature on VOW 88.1 FM, where we shared YOSA’s vision: empowering young people to rise, lead, and transform their communities. To date 25 Wits students have come through to volunteer at YOSA!
This fair wasn’t just an event — it was a movement. A reminder that when youth, universities, and NGOs unite, the ripple effect reaches far beyond campus walls.
💡 Thank you to everyone who engaged with us. Your voices, ideas, and energy fuel the future we’re building together. Stronger communities start with stronger connections — and we’re just getting started!

09/04/2026

YOSA is very grateful for its budding partnership with Howden Holdings Ltd ✏️📚

At this time when access to basic learning resources is becoming a barrier for many young people Howden Holdings Ltd opened our year by donating and delivering a tone of stationary to YOSA Centre at Sekwati Primary School. We were blessed with all the stationary we need for the year!

The Howden team took the time to meet with YOSA staff, the school principal and engaged with learners. This engagement provided meaningful exposure and contributed to broadening our learners’ understanding of career opportunities. After the presentation of the stationary donation, we engaged in hearty conversations on YOSA STEM support programme. 👷🏽‍♂️⚙️ The inspiration from Howden Holdings staff who were mainly engineers will forever be cherished. The conversations opened new ways of thinking and proposed possible ways of further engagements. ⚙️

The support from Howden was a demonstration of their commitment to education and youth development ❤️Your additional donations of time and rich conversations were truly transformational. Thank you so much for investing in the future of South Africa.

05/04/2026

13/02/2026

Email writing tips from our learners 📧✨

• Always include a clear subject line. It tells the reader what your email is about.
• Start with a respectful greeting. “Good day” or “Dear Mr/Ms…” sets the tone.
• Keep your message clear and to the point.
• Use full sentences and proper punctuation.
• Read your email again before sending.

Strong email skills show confidence, respect, and professionalism 💼🌱

09/02/2026

In January, we were honoured to host our friends Trevor and Karen, who visited us from Australia.🌏

They brought generous donations, including stationery, clothing, sanitary pads, dolls for babies, and YOSA school uniforms donated by Barker College.

We distributed the dignity pack to learners in schools supported by YOSA. The aim is to keep girls in school, support their wellbeing, and protect their right to education.📚

Alongside the distributions, we shared words of encouragement. Learners were motivated to value learning and to think about their futures and their careers beyond high school.📈

We thank Trevor and Karen for their continued support and for advocating for Youth Opportunities South Africa while in Australia. We also acknowledge Barker College for contributing uniforms that provide learner dignity and enhance our programme identity in our community. 🧡