​Through Tshepo 1 Million initiative program, the Gauteng Provincial Government continues to encourage young people in townships to never give up on their dreams.
This was echoed during the youth activation roadshow held at Impumelelo Sports Ground in Devon, last Thursday.

The aim of the roadshow was to encourage young people to grab opportunities presented by Tshepo 1 Million to better their lives. It urged young people to start their own side hustles while they are still waiting for bigger opportunities.

Amongst the challenges raised by the youth of Devon include poverty, youth unemployment, and lack of opportunities for young people.

Tshepo 1Million’s community facilitator, Thulisile Ndlovu, said that the program is a youth skills empowerment initiative designed to demolish the barriers that young people encounter when looking for work opportunities. It provides youths with skills development, employment creation and entrepreneurship development to provide them with hope for the future.

She added that it is important as a youth to scan your community and understand what is needed and provide solutions as per the needs.

“Business is about identifying the problem, identify the solution and to commercialise that solution”, Ndlovu added.

“While you still waiting for those big opportunities, find your passion on something and run with it”, she said.

“The Tshepo 1 Million initiative is a solution to address youth unemployment aimed at the Gauteng residents between the ages of 18 – 34 years with at least a grade 10, the campaign is specifically for first-time job seekers with limited experience”, she said.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development Social Worker, Linkie Sithole, told young people that the department’s doors are open for everyone to develop themselves through various organisations that offer skills development for young people.

“As the department, we do provide skills development for young people through organisation that we fund and we assist those who want to register their NPO’s, and also those who want to start their own cooperatives”, said Sithole.