As we nationally commemorate youth this month, the Western Cape Government has developed an innovative Youth Service Programme, YearBeyond, which provides youth between the ages of 18 and 25 an opportunity to gain meaningful work experience, build their work readiness skills and CV while giving back to their communities.
The largest programme places youth in schools as teacher assistants during the day and assisting learners who are struggling academically with literacy and maths after school. The province has 399 youth in service.
Over the last five years the Western Cape government has developed and refined its 10-month youth service programme. In the process we have learnt:
An impact study of YearBeyond over the year found that over 80% of Alumni feel prepared for the work of work, 85% felt comfortable in their interviews and 82% went on to study or work at the end of the year of service. Finally, 47% of youth continue to actively volunteer in their community’s post YearBeyond.
Mbuyi Yanta (28), 2016 Yeboneer, Mindfulness practitioner, coach and trainer
"I encourage everyone to become a volunteer. It is very difficult to find a job. The YearBeyond programme teaches you how to apply yourself and show up. You have to be active and aware to take advantage of the opportunities, not just collect a stipend and have a nice time."
Nkhulu Gugu (27), 2018 volunteer, iKasi Tutors business owner
"I advise people to volunteer to learn new skills. It shows you a new world and helps you to find your passion – what you love and don’t love in life. It helped me develop my own business and get sustainable income."
Louwina Bendie (21), 2017 YeBoneer, pharmacy assistant.
"YearBeyond was amazing. I made new friends and learnt what it is like to work. I never knew it was that difficult! After the programme I got a bursary to study, but I would not have had the confidence to even go for the interview if I hadn’t done YearBeyond."
Stacy McLean
Spokesperson to Minister Anroux Marais
083 504 1171