The Impact of the Youth Development Programme, As Seen by the Learners

By Kasia Rybarczyk

Many learners in South Africa receive education that falls short of the quality they deserve. Key challenges include overcrowded classrooms, insufficient resources, and disparities in access to quality education between urban and rural areas. These systemic issues contribute to high dropout rates and low matric pass percentages, underscoring the need for programmes like Just Grace’s Youth Development Programme (YDP).

Through our Youth Development Programme, we support learners in Langa throughout high school to help them progress into further education, training,  or employment. We make this possible by offering a variety of activities, including life skills and academic support to book clubs, computer training, leadership development, coding, job shadowing, and career guidance. On top of that, we provide youth with psychosocial support to help them overcome the mental health challenges that frequently stem from socio-economic conditions and difficult upbringings. 

Studies show that such holistic approaches that combine academic, after-school, and emotional support significantly improve learner retention and success. According to research summarized in “Afterschool Program Quality and Student Outcomes: Reflections on Positive Key Findings on Learning and Development From Recent Research,” high-quality learning programs offer a blend of academic and developmental activities, and promote student engagement, mastery of skills, and autonomy. Still, the true impact of YDP is best seen in the words of learners themselves.

Building a Diverse Skillset

HOur Youth Development Programme (YDP) helps learners reach their full potential and strengthen their technical and academic skills. 

“The biggest skill I have gained from the programme is learning how to code,” shares Enkosi (Grade 11), while Owam (Grade 9) highlights learning to manage his study time more effectively. For Iyanda (Grade 9), the biggest value lies in soft skills, in particular collaboration: “The biggest skill I have gained from the programme is peer-to-peer learning and studying with learners from different schools.”

But the YDP’s impact extends beyond hard and soft skills. 

For Grade 11 learner Bukhobenkosi, one of the most valuable lessons has been the ability to connect and communicate with peers from different schools. “Communicating with other learners from different schools,” he says, “has been the biggest skill I’ve gained from the programme.” 

That sentiment is shared by Grade 10 learner Somila, who adds, “The biggest skill I have gained from the programme is learning how to communicate effectively.”

These stories paint a picture of a programme that blends personal growth with practical skill-building necessary for young people to advance academically and professionally. This is important because, as revealed by a recent study on employability competencies, intrapersonal competencies significantly influence interpersonal skills, which are essential for workplace communication and collaboration. This further proves that the development of both technical and interpersonal skills is crucial for improving youth’s employability and adaptability in South Africa’s job market.

Changing Mindsets

In addition to teaching new skills. YDP changes learners’ perspectives and helps them have a clearer vision for their futures. 

“The programme has helped me improve academically and stay motivated and positive about my future,” says Bukhobenkosi, who credits the experience with helping him avoid procrastination and focus on what matters most. Enkosi agrees: “As a Grade 11 learner, the programme helps me become a better student and motivates me to succeed in the future.”

For Somila, the lessons have been deeply personal: “It has made me realise that everything I do has either positive or negative consequences

By participating in the programme, young people realise that success begins with the right mindset.

Brighter Outlook on Life

When asked to sum up what YDP means to them, the learners’ responses were heartfelt. 

“This programme gives me hope for my future and the future of my peers,” says Bukhobenkosi. Enkosi adds, “The programme motivates me to become the person I aspire to be.” For Somila, it’s a safe space that builds confidence: “It makes me believe I can be a better person. It provides a safe space where I can improve my academic performance.”

Finally, both Iyanda and Owam emphasise transformation and progress: from better marks to a brighter future. 

The Youth Development Programme is shaping the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and dreamers. Through mentorship, academic support, and creative learning opportunities, it provides young people with the ability to pursue their goals.

With South Africa’s youth unemployment rate exceeding 50% in some regions, programmes like YDP are essential for empowering young people to break cycles of poverty and contribute meaningfully to society’s future economic and social development.

Home Visits: Creating Lasting Change at the Heart of the Community

By Kasia Rybarczyk

At Just Grace, we understand that true community development begins at home. Through our Empilweni! Thriving Communities Programme and Phuhlisa! Learner Engagement Programme, our dedicated team of social workers frequently carry out home visits. These visits are crucial in delivering comprehensive psychosocial support services and forging deeper connections with the families and learners we serve.

Why Home Visits Matter

Home visits are more than just a service – they are a vital tool for understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by families in vulnerable communities. By stepping into the environments where individuals and families live, our social workers can:

  • Assess the individual and family environment to identify specific stressors or support gaps.
  • Provide on-the-spot psychosocial support, build trust, and refer where needed.
  • Establish rapport and empathy – meeting in family homes helps social workers connect more deeply than in office-only settings.

These visits allow us to offer truly context-aware, compassionate support that leads to more meaningful and sustainable impact.

Research-Backed Benefits of Home Visiting

The importance of home visits is supported by research. A 2025 systematic review of 22 studies covering 18 different home visiting interventions found evidence that home visits can improve child mental health, socioemotional, and developmental outcomes. Importantly, these interventions targeted families with high vulnerabilities and complex needs, showing positive impacts on child cognitive and behavioral development.

Beyond benefits for children, home visits have positive impacts on parents and families as a whole. Research indicates families participating in home visiting are more likely to improve economic self-sufficiency because they engage more in vocational training and get connected to education and job training opportunities. These programs also help reduce parental stress and improve mental health, which leads to more positive parenting behaviors and creating stimulating home environments.

Additionally, another study highlighted the effectiveness of home visitis in reducing harsh parenting practices and lowering child abuse risk through improving parent-child interactions and providing psychological support.

These findings confirm that home visits serve as a critical foundation for safer, healthier, and more supportive home environments for vulnerable families.

Our Commitment to Holistic Support

At Just Grace, we are committed to addressing the root causes of challenges faced by individuals and families to achieve long-term positive change. Our home visits are part of a broader strategy to support families and learners holistically. By engaging closely with the community of Langa and understanding the context in which our beneficiaries live, we can grasp the unique social, economic, and personal contexts that affect them. This informed perspective allows us to tailor interventions precisely to their specific needs, whether through academic support, psychosocial counseling, life skills training, or career guidance.

Our approach does not only offer immediate relief through crisis intervention, but it primarily prioritises empowerment by building technical and soft skills alongside psychosocial support. This holistic support framework aims to reduce poverty, improve educational outcomes, create decent work opportunities, and create equal opportunities for all. Just Grace strives to help families and youth overcome adversity and thrive.

Moving Forward Together

As we continue our work in Langa, we remain committed to the practice of home visiting as a cornerstone of our approach. This commitment is embodied in key programmes like our Empilweni! Thriving Communities and Phuhlisa! Learner Engagement Programme. 

The Empilweni! programme addresses critical social challenges in Langa, including gender-based violence, crime, and substance abuse, by providing community members with psychosocial services such as counselling, social work, home visits, parent support groups, and safety planning. It empowers victims, fosters healing within families, and builds a culture of safety and respect through community awareness and life skills workshops. 

Complementing this, the Phuhlisa! Learner Engagement programme supports young learners throughout high school with home visits, counselling, career guidance, and life skills development to increase school retention and educational attainment. 

Together, these evidence-based initiatives exemplify Just Grace’s deep local understanding and strategic focus on addressing root causes while fostering resilience and opportunity in the Langa community. By meeting families where they are, we build trust, provide immediate support, and create pathways for lasting change.

If you’re interested in learning more about our programmes or how you can get involved, please reach out. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

For more information on the studies mentioned, please refer to the following resources:

  • https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12013050/
  • https://www.casey.org/home-visiting-programs/

 

Powering Purpose Through Enterprise: How Our Social Enterprises Fuel Sustainable Impact

By Linah Mokwana (Just Grace Fundraising Coordinator)

Our goal at Just Grace is straightforward yet strong: to end Langa’s poverty cycle by means of education, skills development, and job creation. But we also know that generating lasting influence involves more than passion; it requires sustainability.

That is why we have integrated social enterprise into our DNA. Our commitment to sustainable development means building models that reduce dependency on donor funding while empowering our community to lead transformation. By means of creative, income-generating projects, we are demonstrating that goal and profit can coexist.

Why we chose a social enterprise model

The traditional donor model, while valuable, can be unpredictable. Long-term impact demands long-term funding, and we needed a strategy that could outlast funding cycles and economic fluctuations. Our model enables us to build long-term, sustainable funding, reducing our dependency on funders, creating jobs for the community and programme alumni, and promoting innovation. This allows us to test new, innovative ideas and respond to community needs.

MEET OUR ENTERPRISES

Rather than just business entities, our enterprises are extensions of our social mission, meant to inspire, educate, and empower.

Cela Coffee & Mobile Coffee Services

Cela Coffee, founded in the heart of Langa, is more than just a drink. It’s a brand that unites people, provides jobs, and celebrates township greatness. Cela Coffee, which roasts beans locally and trains young baristas, has now reached the shelves of Checkers supermarkets, marking a significant step toward scaling township-based products.

Sewing Products

Our sewing programme provides vital skills to youth aged between 18-27 years, allowing them to gain skills by producing high-quality handcrafted goods. The programme also includes personal and professional development training to help youth not only gain hard skills, but also essential soft skills needed in the job market.

Iingcali Accountants

This programme provides affordable, professional financial services to township enterprises while also offering SAICA-accredited training to aspiring young accountants. It’s a win-win situation: local businesses grow stronger, while youth receive practical experience toward professional certification.

Airbnb Social Impact experience

Our Airbnb Experiences create authentic cultural interactions that boost both tourism and income by bringing our community together with the outside world. Visitors learn about Just Grace’s history while also getting a first-hand experience of the different programmes.

Each of our enterprises is designed to provide more than just financial benefits. They are vehicles for real-world work preparation, providing our trainees with direct access to employers, projects, and business operations, as well as entrepreneurial pathways that boost confidence and the ability to launch independent companies.

WHAT'S NEXT?

We are just getting started. We’re looking into expanding Cela Coffee to new businesses and events in Cape Town and beyond. Our goal is to continue to grow, allowing us to continue serving even when donor environments vary. We are improving digital marketing and collaborations to increase exposure and sales across all enterprises. We’re thrilled about the journey ahead, but we realise it’ll need a village and a vision.

JOIN US IN POWERING PURPOSE

At Just Grace, we believe that social enterprise is more than a buzzword; it’s a tool for justice, dignity, and systemic change. Every coffee you sip, every handmade product you purchase, and every experience you book brings us closer to a more equitable South Africa. Support us. Partner with us. Walk with us. Together, we can turn enterprise into empowerment.

Click here to make a purchase.

Building Safe Spaces: How Just Grace Supports Child Protection Every Day

By Yanga Swana (Community Development Head of Programmes)

As we observe Child Protection Month, we are reminded of the importance of creating safe, supportive environments where children and young people can grow, learn, and thrive. Child Protection Month is aimed at raising awareness about children’s often forgotten rights, safety, and well-being. At Just Grace, child protection isn’t something we focus on just one month a year – it is embedded in everything we do.

From high schools in Langa to homes, our four core programmes work together to ensure children and youth are not only protected from harm but are also empowered to shape brighter futures.

Why Child Protection Month Matters

Child Protection Month is a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of children’s rights and promoting their safety and well-being. It is a time when people of different communities, sectors and institutions can come together to show solidarity in the protection of our children. In many communities, including the one we serve, children face challenges such as violence, abuse, neglect, poverty, and limited access to quality education and healthcare. This is why a holistic approach is needed in this fight. This month serves as a reminder to everyone to take action, not only this month but every day thereafter.

At Just Grace, we believe child protection means more than physical safety. It means equipping young people with the skills, support systems, and opportunities they need to lead fulfilling lives – free from fear, harm, or exploitation.

A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO CHILD AND YOUTH SAFTEY

Our response to child protection is holistic and long-term. Each of our programmes addresses a different but interconnected part of a child’s world – school, home, community, and future.

Here’s how each programme plays a role in safeguarding and supporting the children and youth of Langa:

Qhubeka Youth Development Programme: Long-Term Support for Youth

Starting in Grade 8, learners join a multi-year journey that continues through further education or employment. This programme offers:

  • Academic support
  • Life skills training
  • Computer literacy and coding
  • Literacy clubs
  • Personal development
  • Psycho-social support

By building strong, trusting relationships with youth over time, we create an environment where they feel seen, heard, and supported. This consistency helps identify risks early and provide timely intervention.

Phuhlisa School Strengthening Programme: A Safety Net in the Classroom

Our team of social workers partner with five high schools to support the well-being and academic progress of at-risk learners through:

  • Counselling
  • Home visits
  • Life skills development
  • Parent support groups

Schools are often the first-place where signs of neglect or abuse appear. Through this programme, we work closely with teachers and social workers to make sure no child falls through the cracks.

Phakama Youth Activation Programme: Reconnecting Disengaged Youth

Unemployed and disengaged youth are especially vulnerable to crime, substance abuse, and unsafe environments. This programme helps them reconnect with their potential through:

  • Skills training (in barista, sewing or accredited accounting technicians training)
  • Professional and personal development
  • Digital literacy training
  • Job readiness and placement

By reigniting hope and ambition, we provide a protective layer against risky paths and help build more stable, empowered futures.

Empilweni Thriving Communities Programme: Healing and Resilience for Safer Homes

A child cannot thrive in a home or community filled with unresolved trauma or harmful social norms. This programme promotes mental health and community resilience by offering:

  • Psychosocial support and trauma counselling
  • Community education on harmful beliefs and behaviours
  • Family and individual therapy

When we address the root causes of violence and instability, we create a safer environment not only for children but for everyone in the community.

Child Protection Is Our Everyday Commitment

During Child Protection Month, we may wear green ribbons and share stories – but at Just Grace, our work is grounded in the everyday actions that keep children safe and give them the tools to succeed.

Whether it’s helping a learner pass matric, guiding a young adult into a first job, or supporting a family through crisis, we are committed to protecting and uplifting every young person we encounter.

How You Can Help

Join us in building safe spaces for children and youth:

  • Volunteer your time or skills
  • Donate to support our ongoing work
  • Share this message to raise awareness

Together, we can create a future where every child grows up safe and supported.

Agcobile’s Path to Success with the Phakama! Youth Activation Programme

 

In South Africa, the journey from education to employment is often fraught with challenges. With youth unemployment rates at a staggering 43%, many young individuals struggle to find a foothold in the job market.

The Phakama! Youth Activation Programme aims to bridge this gap, offering essential skills and opportunities to youth who are otherwise excluded from the formal job market. Through our targeted streams, including barista training, we equip young people with both the technical and personal and professional development training needed to thrive in the workforce. Agcobile Mhlambiso, a 23-year-old from the Langa, is one such example. When she joined our barista training intake in January 2023, Agcobile had been facing the common hurdle of finding meaningful employment. However, after completing the Phakama! Barista Training Programme, Agcobile’s future took an exciting new direction. 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Agcobile’s story is a testament to the power of skills development programmes in providing youth with the tools they need to break the cycle of unemployment. After completing the programme, she was able to secure a job at Bootleggers, a popular coffee shop in the Western Cape. Agcobile loves her work and describes her favourite part of the job as seeing customers happy with the coffees she creates. 

By April 2023, Agcobile had not only completed her Barista training but had also received valuable professional and personal development training that boosted her confidence and equipped her with the skills needed for the service industry. According to Annie Smith, Programme Manager, Agcobile’s hardworking attitude and natural, friendly demeanour made her a perfect fit for the service industry. “She is a natural,” Annie says, “her commitment and willingness to learn really shone through during the training. Agcobile took the opportunity given to her by Just Grace and made the most of it. We are very proud of the way she has put the things she learned into practise, and has excelled in her field.” 

A CHAMPIONSHIP VICTORY

In November 2024, Agcobile’s dedication and hard work were tested when she entered the Bootleggers Western Cape Barista Championship. Agcobile emerged victorious, taking home the championship title. This achievement stands as a testament to her resilience, talent, and the practical impact of skills development programmes like Phakama! in opening doors to meaningful and lasting employment opportunities.

A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

Agcobile’s journey reflects what is possible when young people are given the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to succeed. From struggling to find a way into the workforce, Agcobile is now a shining example of the power of perseverance and the transformative potential of skills training. Her story reinforces the importance of programmes like Phakama! in empowering youth, fostering self-sufficiency, and providing a path out of the NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) cycle.

At Just Grace, we are immensely proud of Agcobile’s accomplishments. Her success is a reminder that with the right support, determination, and a love for what you do, anything is possible.

The Urgent Call for Action: Addressing Gender-Based Violence in South Africa



THE NEED

In South Africa, despite significant strides in nationwide initiatives and progressive constitutional measures aimed at combating gender-based violence (GBV), a harsh reality persists, casting a pervasive shadow over countless lives and communities.

Statistics reveal the stark reality of South Africa’s battle against GBV; termed the “rape capital of the world,” the nation witnessed a staggering 10,818 reported rape cases in the first quarter of 2022 alone. Shockingly, the rate of women killed by intimate partners in South Africa is five times higher than the global average (1). These figures underscore the pressing need for intervention and prevention initiatives to address GBV effectively. With Sustainable Development Goal 5 aiming to achieve gender equality and to empower all women and girls by 2030, urgent action is required to tackle this crisis and protect the most vulnerable members of society.

The effects of GBV and crime extend far beyond the immediate acts, profoundly affecting individuals and communities alike. GBV, in its various forms, inflicts enduring harm, negatively impacting women’s physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive health (2). Additionally, GBV poses a significant economic burden; in 2019, estimates revealed that South Africa incurred losses exceeding R36 billion in medical expenses, human capital, and judicial costs as a result of gender-based violence (3). Persistent public attitudes, political inertia, and institutional challenges serve to entrench GBV, highlighting the urgent need for collaborative efforts to confront and eradicate these pervasive issues.

The need for interventions and programmes addressing GBV and crime in South Africa is clear. The stark statistics and profound impacts underscore the urgency of comprehensive efforts to prevent, address, and eliminate gender-based violence. It is important for all stakeholders, including NGOs, to actively contribute to raising awareness and providing support to victims of GBV and crime.

OUR APPROACH

Our Empilweni! Thriving Communities Programme adopts a dual approach that recognises the need for both preventative measures and victim support. 

Aligned with South Africa’s National Action Plan to End Gender Violence, which underscores the necessity of preventive measures like increasing awareness and education about GBV, as well as challenging harmful gender norms, our programme places prevention at the forefront. Each year, we conduct GBV workshops reaching hundreds of community members, aiming to educate and raise awareness about the root causes and dynamics of GBV and crime. These workshops specifically target masculinity within the context of GBV, engaging groups of men within the community as active participants in combating GBV. 

This approach acknowledges the vital role men play in addressing GBV Beyond prevention, our programme extends crucial support to victims of gender-based violence and crime. Our team of social workers, trained in the trauma-informed approach, provide counselling, home visits, referrals and safety planning, ensuring survivors receive the comprehensive assistance they need to navigate their recovery journey. 

Our emphasis on psychosocial support services recognises the profound impact of trauma on survivors’ mental and physical well-being. By offering a holistic support network, we empower individuals to break free from the cycles of abuse and rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.

(1) Https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10091185

(2) Https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350337072_The_Prevalence_of_Gender-Based_Violence_against_Women_in_South_Africa_A_Call_for_Action (researchgate.net)

(3) Https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350337072_The_Prevalence_of_Gender-Based_Violence_against_Women_in_South_Africa_A_Call_for_Action

 

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