Transforming a community

T POWER IN RANSFORMING COMMUNITIES

South African comedian and host of the US hit television programme TheDailyShowTrevor Noah recently donated R8million to a local project on behalf of the Trevor Noah Foundation in partnership with YouthBuild South Africa (YBSA).

This is a joint response to the pressing issues surrounding impoverished communities throughout the country. With the quality of infrastructure being one issue of many, 56% of SA teachers have reported a shortage of physical infrastructure, hindering their ability to provide the necessary learning environment. YBSA aims to mobilise young adults between the ages of 17 and 29 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) to improve their lives and communities. The group partners with these young people as they pursue their education, prepare for future careers and grow into community leaders building brighter futures for themselves and their neighbourhoods. The donation from the Trevor Noah Foundation will help further connect YBSA graduates in underserved communities to find work and create self-employment in the construction, tourism, hospitality and information and communications technology (ICT) sectors.

YBSA works with youth living in underprivileged communities providing work readiness, skills training and connecting graduates to employment in different industries. To date, over 2 000 opportunities have been created by YBSA programmes.

THE FARANANI PROJECT: ‘TOGETHERNESS’

According to recent reports, South Africa grapples with a high unemployment rate of 34.4%, one of the highest in the world. The Faranani infrastructure project is one approach that the Trevor Noah Foundation and YBSA have created to enhance the educational foundation in our schools. Based in Soweto, young people from various communities will be provided with training, practical construction skills, and the mindset to transform an educational environment. The goal is to address school infrastructure needs while supporting and developing the skills of unemployed youth. “We want to make sure our young people are ready and mentally prepared for the world of work and build our communities, ” said Oupa Tshabalala, Executive Director at YBSA.

FOSTERING THE FOUDATION OF YOUTH

The limited access to education and low quality of South Africa’s infrastructure have been the driving forces behind the Foundation’s projects, programmes and initiatives.

The Trevor Noah Foundation – in collaboration with the government, their partners and communities –has implemented dynamic school programmes. These programmes ensure the youth of SA have access to wellestablished learning environments within their communities, giving them the best chance to succeed in life once they leave school.

Currently, there are 11 Khulani School partners, and the Trevor Noah Foundation collaborates closely with these partners to increase capacity for educational excellence.

Although each school faces physical, human resource and financial constraints, they were hand-picked for exhibiting purpose-driven leadership and a commitment to excellence.

The Trevor Noah Foundation currently impacts over 500 teachers, 6 000 learners and countless families within the communities. The goal is to reach 25 schools by the end of 2025. “Today ’s kids are told to be the leaders of tomorrow, but they ’re not given the tools. I’m excited about this partnership with YouthBuild because we’re creating life-changing opportunities for South African youth. We all deserve to achieve our fullest potential no matter where we come from, ” concluded Noah. A