How equal opportunity can help build a stronger SA for all

Luyanda Malevu, 26, says young people don’t have an easy time in SA. “There are things in life you can’t control, like unemployment in this country,” he says. But there is much that young people can control, he says, like seeing every equal opportunity given to them as a chance to learn and to become the best version of yourself. “Give those moments every bit of energy you have. The breakthrough will be found there!”

Kayla du Preez, 24, agrees that things are not simple for the youth. She says the biggest advice she can give to others following her graduation with a PGDip qualification is to believe in yourself. 

“Have the confidence that you can do it is vital. At my graduation, I saw the proof that so many of us have done it and you can too! Anyone can do this.” She says many young people are battling anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, making it harder for them to study further.

But there is so much support out there, and at Milpark, she says students get equal opportunity and plenty of academic as well as psycho-social support to help them achieve their goals.

She stresses that it is important to find the resilience to get up again after being knocked down by bad news, or a poor test result, or someone’s wounding comments about your abilities. “Remember that you are not defined by your challenges but by your unwavering determination to overcome them!”

Zamashenge Buthelezi, 25, knows all about how hard it can be to keep motivating yourself. She had made numerous attempts to get her PGDip but failed for various reasons, even taking a break from her studies for some time. But she came back to it — and finally, she succeeded in graduating.

She puts it this way, “Education is the one thing no-one can take away from you. It’s an investment that yields the greatest returns. It is the key to unlocking your potential and achieving your dreams. Embrace the challenges, for they are the stepping stones to success.”

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SA’s youth are determined to succeed, says Lethubuhle. They know that they need to educate themselves and that this will empower and enable them to help themselves as well as others. The party will come later, she says, after graduation.

“Education does not only enhance personal lives but also contributes to the prosperity of our nation, fostering informed decision-making and intergenerational wealth,” she says.

It seems this is how our youth will celebrate Youth Day at Milpark over the weekend — by studying and investing in their own and SA’s brighter future! With equal opportunity, we can do more as the youth.

Visit the Milpark website now and find a program tailored for you.