Youth recognised for empowering young minds
The modules are a key component of The IIE’s qualifications, and are designed to prepare students for their future careers by providing them with practical experience.
Pharelo Maphangule established the Youth Leadership Organisation to empower young people through leadership skills, coding lessons, reading instruction, and school shoe donations.
The 20-year-old third-year Bachelor of Education student at the University of the Free State (UFS) started doing volunteering work in Grade 12 in 2018 — working with the Congress of South African Students to distribute food and donations to over 2 000 young people, families, and schools in Ivory Park.
There are nine young people currently employed by Youth Leadership and no funding is received from the government or from private companies to operate the organisation.
Nevertheless, the budding philanthropist continues to teach coding and reading to underprivileged children and provides them with the necessary tools that will enable them to succeed in life.
He is also a UFS ambassador for the Division of Student Affairs’ Social Support Office, vice-chairperson of the Student Association Council and the Kovsie Development Programme, and chairperson of the Off-Campus Student Association.
In recognition of the essential work Maphangule does to empower young minds with these vital skills, he was recently awarded the 2023 Sunday World Unsung Hero certificate in the community, sports, arts, and culture category.
The annual ceremony held on June 24 at Houghton Hotel celebrates the achievements of young South African innovators who are nominated as role models in business and entrepreneurship, technology, science and innovation, education, community development, agriculture, and climate and sustainability, among other categories.
“We are all born with a purpose and, growing up, I saw a lot of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and I did not want to see myself in the same circumstances,” said Maphangule.
The former Eqinisweni Secondary School learner describes himself as a visionary who wants to bring change to communities.
“A candle does not lose its light by lighting another one. I would like to see young people grow up with leadership skills.”
Maphangule said he chose to study towards an education degree because he believes, ‘discipline is more than micro lessons. It is about shaping the future of students and learners to become better citizens… Teachers are the parents when the biological parents are not there’.
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