A matric certificate, diploma or degree should open doors, yet many young South Africans still find themselves locked out of the labour market. For some, the barrier is limited work experience. For others, it is a lack of practical job-search skills, financial knowledge, confidence or access to the right networks.
This is the gap the Momentum Group Foundation aims to help close through its Dream to Thrive Career Expo, a Mandela Month youth empowerment initiative that will equip 500 young people across five provinces with the tools and guidance they need to prepare for work, create income opportunities and take stronger steps towards their future.
The campaign begins today in Cape Town at the Community Women Action Conference Centre, before moving to Tembisa at the Moses Molelekwa Arts and Culture Community Centre, Kimberley at Sol Plaatje University, and Gqeberha at Ubuntu Pathways. It will conclude on 28 July at the Tshwane University of Technology campus in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
The initiative targets matriculated youth, including unemployed graduates and young people who are not in employment, education or training, between the ages of 18 and 35. It will focus on practical skills young people can use immediately, including CV compilation, interview readiness, financial literacy, social media etiquette and digital footprint management.
“South Africa’s youth employment challenge will not be solved by hope alone. Young people need practical support, clear pathways, financial knowledge and the confidence to show up when opportunity comes,” says Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Youth Employment Portfolio Specialist at Momentum Group Foundation. “Through the Dream to Thrive Career Expo, we want to help them move closer to work, income and dignity.”
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s most urgent challenges. According to Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the first quarter of 2026, the official unemployment rate among young people aged 15 to 34 stood at 45.8%. For those aged 15 to 24, the rate was even higher, at 60.9%.
Behind these figures are young people who want to work, support their families and build sustainable livelihoods. Many have qualifications but continue to struggle to enter the labour market. Mahlangu believes the challenge is not only that jobs are scarce. It is also that many young people are not always fully prepared for what employers expect in the workplace.
The Dream to Thrive Career Expo will help participants understand how to present themselves professionally, prepare for interviews, manage money better and use digital platforms in ways that support their career prospects.
“Job readiness is not only about having a certificate or qualification. It is also about knowing how to present yourself, how to speak about your abilities, how to manage your money and how to make informed choices about your future,” he adds. “These are practical skills that can help young people compete with greater confidence and recognise opportunities in different forms.”
The programme will also equip young people with relevant skills such as job-searching and CV writing, interview preparation, appropriate dress code for the world of work, financial literacy and social media etiquette.
The world of work is changing, and earning an income is not limited to one traditional route. Some may find opportunities through formal employment, while others may build livelihoods through small businesses, digital work, volunteering, learnerships or enterprise development opportunities.
Momentum Group Foundation’s youth employment strategy is rooted in enabling the life aspirations and sustainable earning potential of young people in South Africa. Through employment programmes, job placement support and access to income-generating opportunities, the Foundation aims to help young people move from uncertainty to possibility.
This is where volunteering can also play an important role. According to Patronella Sono, Staff Volunteering Programme Specialist at Momentum Group Foundation, one of the biggest barriers facing young people is the “no experience” cycle.
“Volunteering is often seen only as an act of kindness, but it is also a powerful way to build skills,” says Sono. “When young people volunteer with purpose, they learn how to communicate, solve problems, work in teams and lead. These are the same qualities employers look for when they are hiring.”
“As a country, we must move from merely talking about youth employment to building real bridges into opportunity,” Mahlangu concludes. “Young people do not need pity. They need preparation, access and people who believe enough in their future to walk the journey with them. Dream to Thrive is one way we are showing that belief in action.”
