GEORGE NEWS - A group of youngsters from George, serving in the YearBeyond national youth service programme, had an unforgettable experience at the #GoBeyond25: Shape Your Future Conference held at the University of the Western Cape from 10 to 13 July.
The youth are part of Womb to Tomb, the local implementing partner for YearBeyond in the region.
Together with over 1 000 YeBoneers from across South Africa, they spent four days connecting, learning and discovering what's possible when young people are given the space to grow.
The event marked 10 years of YearBeyond, a programme that offers unemployed youth meaningful service roles while supporting their personal and professional development.
The conference featured a mix of keynote addresses, interactive workshops and the vibrant Fringe Programme, which included games, creative storytelling, and a study expo showcasing over 20 institutions.
"It was very inspiring," said Justin Witbooi. "We learnt more than we expected, and now we know how to deal with certain issues we might have struggled with before."
The keynote speakers shared personal stories of resilience, purpose and leadership, encouraging the youth to believe in their own potential and take bold steps towards their future.
Former YeBoneers also shared how their year of service shaped their futures, including Lisakhanya Pendu, a YeBo alumnus from George, who landed her first corporate job at Dotsure after connecting through the YeBo Opportunities Expo.
A lot of group sessions took place.
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