Most people across the globe will agree that Nelson Mandela’s legacy favours the empowerment and upliftment of the youth.
Of particular importance to Madiba were the children of South Africa and their future.
It was with this in mind that brand and corporate communications company 1Africa Consultancy hosted a Nelson Mandela Day-themed roundtable discussion with 10 youths from across South Africa. The event was held at Hotel Sky on July 12, a few days before everyone else.
The topics covered in the intimate session questioned economic challenges versus skills set in a turbulent socioeconomic climate, which is plagued by such social issues as high youth unemployment; underemployment resulting in youth doing jobs that don’t match their skills (or education) level; personal development and motivation; as well as overcoming poverty mindset.
Strategy manager at 1Africa Terena Chetty emphasised why it was important to bring together youth from various backgrounds, as well as experts from different sectors, to discuss key issues facing youth.
“What we’re looking to do is get different perspectives, and sort of look at some of the solutions for some of the problems faced by the youth today,” said Chetty.
A key concern raised by many participants was the unavailability of career opportunities that supported their passions or calling. They also discussed challenges in having to take jobs for employment’s sake, often at the cost of the things they love doing most.
Among the motivational experts invited to interact with the youth was Chelsea De Gama from Chelsea Da Gama Consulting, whose principal focus is instilling a sense of self-worth in youth, and Lerato Funeka from the South African Association of Youth Club (SAAYC) who is involved in uplifting youth from across the country, to then uplift their communities.
Also in attendance was Mala Reddy who works in the domain of tackling youth issues and addressing a poverty mindset by getting young people to think differently.
“I’m here to tell you today that you’re not the colour of your skin; you are not your religion; you are not the environment you grew up in; you are not your parents. We get entangled in the trouble of the division, and we start seeing each other as different, okay,” Reddy encouraged the participants.
Da Gama motivated the attendees to be aware of the perspective that they chose to carry and to consider that the whole world was available to them when they were ready to seize their day, and Funeka advised them to follow their calling.
