‘IMPACT YOUTH DESK SA’ ON A MISSION TO EMPOWER YOUNG AND ENERGETIC!
As South Africa continues to face the growing challenge of youth unemployment, two young leaders are stepping forward with a bold vision to create opportunities for the country’s next generation.
Through a newly established youth-led organization in Akasia, Pretoria North Ward98, IMPACT YOUTH DESK SA, co-founders – Kgopotso Mokone and Brenda Dhlamini – are working to empower young South Africans through skills development, mentorship, and economic opportunities.
The Impact Youth Desk SA, which is set to officially launch in June 2026, aims to bridge the gap between young people and the opportunities available in the job market while also supporting youth entrepreneurship and networking.
It has been frustrating for South African youth, including graduates, and worse for those without tertiary qualification, to get employed in this country.
What could have sparked the formation of this organization, though not limited, was the unemployment rate within the Akasia area, and many youth loiter around during the day instead of being at work, or school.
Impact Youth Desk SA is built on the mission of empowering young people with the skills, mentorship, and opportunities necessary to grow economically and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The organisation focuses on connecting youth with job opportunities, promoting small business development, and advocating for youth-focused policies that address economic challenges faced by young South Africans.
Mokone said the organisation was born out of a deep desire to see young people succeed.
“Impact Youth Desk SA is about creating a platform where young people can access opportunities that can change their lives. Too many talented young people are struggling to find jobs or grow their businesses, and we want to help bridge that gap,” said the youth activist.
Mokone added that the organisation hopes to drive real and lasting change in communities.
“Our ambition is to make a tangible difference in youth unemployment and economic inclusion. We believe that when young people are given the right tools and support, they can transform not only their own lives but also their communities,” he added.
Youth unemployment remains one of the most pressing issues facing South Africa today. While several initiatives exist to support young people, many still find it difficult to access these programmes due to limited awareness or complicated application processes.
The organization believes organisations like Impact Youth Desk SA can play an important role in helping young people navigate these opportunities.
He added: “There are programmes out there that aim to support young people, but many young people are unaware of them or struggle to access them. We want to help young people navigate these opportunities and ensure they don’t miss out on initiatives that could change their futures.”
He conceded that while progress has been made, more work is needed to tackle the unemployment crisis: “Honestly, there’s still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to youth empowerment. While there are initiatives in place, more needs to be done to address youth unemployment and economic exclusion.”
Among the key initiatives planned by Impact Youth Desk SA are job and opportunity-sharing platforms, mentorship programmes for young entrepreneurs, and networking events that connect youth with industry leaders and potential partners.
The organisation also plans to support small businesses owned by young people by promoting their work and helping them access mentorship and resources.
Empowering youth entrepreneurs will be a critical part of the organisation’s work.
The Akasia youth wants to take the bull by its horns, helping young entrepreneurs grow their businesses by connecting them with the right people and resources.
Supporting SMMEs is important because many young people are turning to entrepreneurship as a way to create their own opportunities, and this can be witnessed in mushrooming WhatsApp groups.
Impact Youth Desk SA will begin its work at the community level, starting with Ward 98, before gradually expanding to other communities across the country.
One of the organisation’s early initiatives involves conducting audits within the private sector to determine how many young people from local communities are currently employed. The goal is to encourage businesses to prioritise hiring local youth.
Mokone explained that collaboration with the private sector will be essential.
“We are currently embarking on a private sector business drive where we will conduct audits of employed youth in Ward 98. We aim to ensure that businesses prioritise local youth when opportunities arise and form partnerships with us so we can connect them with young job seekers.”
The organisation plans to expand the same model to other wards and communities across South Africa as it grows.
The official launch of Impact Youth Desk SA in June 2026 will serve as a platform to introduce the organisation to the public and stakeholders, showcasing youth-led businesses, and providing networking opportunities between young entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and industry leaders.
Despite being in its early stages, the organisation’s founders are optimistic about the impact it can make.
“We may be starting small, but our vision is big,” he said in reply to a Q&A statement.
“If we can connect young people with opportunities, help them build skills, and support their businesses, we can contribute to building a stronger and more inclusive economy.”
Although Impact Youth Desk SA currently operates without government assistance, the founders are hopeful that partnerships with both the public and private sectors will strengthen their efforts in the future.
For Mokone and Dhlamini, the mission remains clear – Empower young people and create pathways for them to succeed.
“Young people are the future of this country,” Mokone said.
“If we invest in them today by giving them opportunities and support, we will see a stronger South Africa tomorrow.”
