TALKING ABOUT...

New vision to really See Youth

Cell C has engaged in multiple activities in the crafting of a youth development programme.

Workshops with internal and external stakeholders broke down the existing programme against the social context and formulated the new vision for the programme.

It engaged with the government, nongovernmental organisagtions and corporates, seeking potential partnerships for the programme.

Co-creation sessions were held with the youth, media and partners to gather additional insights on the social context, impact of Take a Girl Child to Work Day and vision of See Youth.

Key was the engagement with the youth to ensure the programme addressed their actual, as opposed to assumed needs – a programme for the youth, with the youth.

Additionally, the engagements with government departments, such as the department of social development, helped in understanding the changes and challenges, particularly with issues affecting the youth.

Key take-outs, among others, from the co-creation sessions with the youth, media and partners included that youth felt they were not seen or heard.

Youth programmes did not resonate with them and were instead based on an assumption of what they needed and not the reality of their needs.

They wanted to learn life skills that would help them in adulthood.

They were dealing with far more than deciding on careers; family dynamics, mental wellness issues, bullying, relationships, identify and many others.

For more information, please visit www. worldofcellc.co.za and www.seeyouth.co.za. Follow the conversation: @SeeYouth.

– Citizen reporter