The Northern Cape Department of Education hosted the last face-to-face interprovincial meeting of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI) on 30-31 August 2023 in Kimberley. Delegates of the meeting included Department Basic Education National and all nine Provincial PYEI Project Managers, identified local school principals, mentors, school-based coordinators, and education assistants. According to the department, the project has afforded youth the opportunity to change their livelihoods and those of their immediate families for the better, acquisition of soft skills, and exit pathways for other job opportunities. Some of the youth have also developed an interest in education and pedagogy as a profession. This day concluded with a gala dinner to celebrate project managers and all the colleagues who have been involved in this initiative from the very beginning and seeing it through till the end of phase 4. It was also used as a reflection on challenges faced from the implementation of the project, and making sure of the vision of creating employment opportunities that has changed the lives of many young people

Journalist: Rene Julies
Email: rckjulies@gmail.com