Maximising the skills and capacity of South African youth is at the forefront of the Coega Development Corporation’s (CDC) latest initiative, the CDC Youth Leadership Academy.
The CDC will launch the Academy, which forms part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects, on October 1 and intensive training will run for five days. The programme aims to provide young leaders with the robust life insight and in-depth content required to lead effectively in society.
The Academy will be presented in the form of a workshop/training focusing on capacitating and equipping young people to deal with complex life issues. The theme for the five day programme is “Leading with Significance”.
“We in South Africa are at a critical juncture at which we must both acknowledge the importance of youth issues and assist in their development. In light of the growing intricacy of South Africa’s development challenges, the nation’s capacity to equip young leaders to deal with complex issues has to be expanded,” said Njabulo Sithebe, CDC Programme Manager.
“The CDC recognises that the capacity to lead is central to the national development agenda. Through the Youth Leadership Academy we want to assist in sharpening talented youths’ edge and engaging them on issues affecting youth leaders today with a view to incubating future leaders.”
While most developing nations have similar population structures, South Africa is particularly young, with half of its population under the age of 30, and many young people facing challenges from birth. This makes the challenge of developing young people even more acute, said Sithebe.
During training a group of 40 youth will unpack the makings of an effective leader; discuss the current South African environment and try to understand the collective psyche of a young people in South Africa. The training will cover topics from financial management, creativity, ethics, communication skills and topics on making and claiming the future.
“Through this programme the CDC will be enhancing the experiences of young leaders and capatalising on experiential-based learning for youth development,” added Sithebe.
The Academy will be held at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ) Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Park training facilities and will take place during the university recess, so youth can focus exclusively on the content and their personal development.
Coega Development Corporation interns (from left) Wongalethu Nozaza, Anele Paliso, Akhona Mfama, (behind) Abongile Nohayi and Lwando Zeka, are ecstatic about the opportunity to develop their skills of analysis, engagement and complex thinking during the inaugural Coega Youth Leadership Academy training, starting on Monday.
