By: Pumza Marubelela and Gadeeja Abbas 

09 September 2024

When Kagiso Kgomane unexpectedly and tragically lost one of his good friends in 2013 due to mental health struggles brought on by unemployment, it changed his entire life.

This course-altering event led the 31 year-old grief-stricken man toward a lifetime of serving the youth so that no other family would suffer the loss of their loved-ones due to a preventable issue. It was this resolution – a mixture of grief and determination – that formed For The Youth By The Youth (FTYBY).

Today what motivates Kagiso – who was also a finalist for the Mail and Gaurdian Young South Africans in 2022  – is knowing that he plays an active part by making his own contribution to combat youth unemployment.

His why is ensuring that no young person loses hope to the point of ending their own lives like his dear friend, whom he remembers with fondness.

“I can’t even sleep without ensuring I share information on our platform, even if it means waking up at 2am to ensure that I go to other pages to get information and share. After doing that I am able to sleep”.

About For the Youth by The Youth

For The Youth By the Youth is an opportunity sharing platform specifically for young people in South Africa – aimed at addressing youth unemployment and access to reliable information on scholarships, internships, employment and learnership opportunities.

Kagiso draws from his own personal experiences. He suffered a lack of access to funding resources and his own education journey was cut short, limiting him to only one year of study.

His personal hardships sparked a passion to ensure other young people would not face the same challenges.

This desire led him to start his organisation, initially sharing opportunities for scholarships and internships through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. In 2018, he officially registered the organisation, formalising its mission to combat youth unemployment by connecting young people to verified opportunities.

Kagiso Kgomane Founder “Education is the passport to the future”, is a motto Kagiso Kgomane believes in. As a social entrepreneur and the Founder of For The Youth By The Youth, Kagiso is an advocate for change in the areas of youth unemployment and education in townships. The non-profit organisation is aimed at assisting the youth in disadvantaged communities by connecting them to opportunities through social media platforms, specifically WhatsApp and Facebook.

Turning pain into purpose

What started out as a simple WhatsApp group, has now expanded into a formal network offering verified opportunities for youth across South Africa. Kagiso and his team meticulously check the legitimacy of every opportunity, even contacting companies directly to ensure the information they share is accurate. In a landscape where young people are often misled by false job listings, FTBTY’s due diligence is a lifesaver for many unemployed young people.

Through his organisation, Kagiso also aims to help those without internet access by submitting bulk applications on behalf of young people who can’t afford data. This dedication to bridging the gap between opportunity and access has yielded numerous success stories.

Image: Supplied 

The biggest challenge for Kagiso and his team was keeping track of the impact their work was having. Doing the Online Communication programme with Amplify Mobilise Change (AMC) in 2023 helped them solve this challenge.

Kagiso helped his organisation achieve strategic goals by doing audience research. He asked his audience if what their organisation posted on social media had an impact on their career and the opportunities they achieved.

This led to a more structured approach to gathering feedback and success stories from his audience, which not only validated their work but also strengthened their case to potential sponsors.

Image: Supplied 

Grassroots Power and the Role of Communication

Kagiso’s journey highlights a powerful lesson for grassroots organisations like his; communication is not just a tool for spreading information but a critical driver of impact and growth. Early on, Kagiso admitted that his organisation didn’t fully prioritise communication.

“We were doing things for the sake of doing them. In most cases we would go to a community and make an event come back and then use our attendance registers anywhere and we would also not take pictures or success stories from the participants.”

Through the AMC programme, he gained valuable insights into the importance of monitoring and evaluation. This shift enabled his team to build stronger relationships with their community members, ensuring they could track successes and challenges and continuously improve their services.

Kagiso also emphasises the significance of connecting with the people you serve. Unlike larger organisations that may focus more on targets than on individual impact, grassroots movements thrive by fostering meaningful relationships with their communities. For Kagiso, this human-centered approach has allowed his organisation to achieve significant impact, particularly in under-served rural areas like Limpopo.

Lessons for other community-centered organisations

Kagiso’s journey is rich with lessons for other grassroots organisations. First and foremost, communication is everything. It’s not just about getting your message out but about genuinely engaging with the people you aim to serve.

Be present, listen, and respond to their needs.

Second, never underestimate the power of partnerships and monitoring impact. Knowing how your work is changing lives helps build credibility and attract the resources needed to keep going.

Lastly, never lose sight of the human connection. Community organisations like his have the power to change lives by staying connected to the heart of the community. It’s the difference between seeing numbers and seeing people.

Image: Supplied 

Turning struggles into strength

He turned his personal challenges into a source of strength, not just for himself but for an entire community of young people who now have access to opportunities they might never have known existed.

His unwavering commitment to sharing information and community has turned his organisation into a beacon of hope, a reminder that even the smallest efforts can create lasting change.

Kagiso’s story is a powerful reminder that even from humble beginnings, one person’s drive and determination can create a ripple effect of change, touching countless lives. Through communication, compassion, and community, Kagiso has turned his struggles into a movement—and his journey is just beginning.

How you can help

Kagiso and his team run an annual Matric Prayer for matriculants in October before they write their final exam. This national prayer will be taking place in Soweto before taking it to other provinces across the country.

The team will also be offering these Grade 12 learners basic computer skills and also assist them in applying to universities and TVET colleges.

They are urging people to donate stationery to matriculants as they prepare to sit down for their final paper.

The organisation is also in need of a new printer. If you would like to make these in-kind donations or monetary donations, please reach out to Kagiso at kgomane.kagiso@gmail.com.