To mark the historic milestone of the 50th anniversary of the June 16 Uprising, the City of Joburg has launched a massive month-long programme dedicated to youth empowerment.
The initiative, which spans all seven regions of the city, aims to uplift, educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. From leadership development workshops to career expos, the city is pulling out all the stops.
Skills and opportunities for youth
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Joburg mayor Dada Morero officially launched the programme last week during a vibrant ceremony in Newtown.
He emphasised that the primary goal of the initiative is to equip young people with practical skills.
“We cannot afford to lose another generation to unemployment,” Morero said.
The programme includes free coding classes, entrepreneurial boot camps and arts showcases aimed at highlighting local talent.
Career expos under the spotlight
One of the standout events is the regional career expos, which bring together major companies and young job seekers.
These expos provide a platform for young people to network directly with potential employers.
However, some critics say the events often result in more CVs being collected than actual job offers.
“I gave out ten CVs today, but nobody even looked at them properly,” complained 21-year-old Sipho Mthembu, who attended the expo in Sandton.
City remains optimistic
Despite the criticism, the city remains optimistic about the programme’s impact.
Officials have reported high attendance at most of the workshops.
The programme will conclude with a major youth concert featuring some of South Africa’s biggest music stars.
While temporary workshops can boost morale, concerns remain that they do not fully address the deep-rooted economic challenges facing the country.
Joburg’s big youth boost key points:
- Joburg has launched a month-long youth empowerment programme to mark 50 years since the June 16 Uprising.
- The programme includes free coding classes, leadership workshops, career expos and entrepreneurship training.
- Mayor Dada Morero said the initiative aims to equip young people with practical skills and tackle unemployment.
- The campaign will end with a major youth concert featuring some of South Africa’s biggest music stars.
