#ForYOUTH: Meet Sophumelela

Meet Sophumelela - YearBeyond

Sophumelela, now 26 years old, was at a crossroads in 2023. Financially excluded from furthering her education, she found herself without direction. She was frustrated. However, everything changed when she saw the impact of the YearBeyond Programme in action through the youth team from the year before at Masonwabe Primary School. Inspired by their work, growth and achievements, she applied and was accepted into the programme.

Joining the YearBeyond youth team at Masonwabe was a turning point. When she first started, Sophumelela felt the weight of her circumstances. At home, her sister was the sole breadwinner, and Sophumelela was eager to contribute. The YearBeyond Programme offered her an opportunity to do that and more. Not only was she able to help financially, but she also gained a renewed sense of independence and purpose by working to uplift learners in her community. At the same time, she was able to help underperforming learners in grades 3 and 4 catch up on their lessons.

The transformation in Sophumelela was immediate. In the beginning, she struggled with her confidence, especially in public speaking and professional communication. But through service and the training and support provided by the programme, she flourished. She learned to lead with confidence, speak in front large groups of people, and build strong professional relationships. The training gave her the tools to thrive, not just in her role at the school, but in life. For the first time, she felt like she was finally on the path towards her purpose. She finished the year determined to continue to contribute and applied, and was accepted at the YeBo Academy mentor training programme. 

Throughout the programme, Sophumelela also learned the importance of resilience. In the past, she had avoided conflict and faced challenges in isolation. The programme encouraged her to confront adversity with bravery and self-assurance. It taught her that she can’t control the actions of others, but she can control how she responds to them. That shift in mindset helped her to navigate difficult situations with clarity and strength.

For Sophumelela, a powerful moment came while she was in this training, during a session on service leadership at the Desmond Tutu Foundation. Here she learned about the power of leading by serving others. She knew then that leadership wasn’t about being in charge. It was about being there for others and empowering them to succeed.

The programme not only shaped her professional life but also nurtured her personal passions. With increased confidence, her role as a gospel singer flourished, and with the support of peers she started entering and winning singing competitions. Consequently, she was excited to receive training in music studies and vocal skills as part of On the Pulse, a partnership initiative by YearBeyond. For Sophumelela, this was a reminder that growth isn't just about your job, it’s about being well-rounded, developing all aspects of yourself, and staying true to your passions.

Today she is paying it forward and uses her training and passion to help young adults enrolled in the YearBeyond programme to find direction and purpose in their lives. The programme showed her that she already had everything she needed to make a difference, and now, she’s determined to carry that forward.

Sophumelela believes that the YearBeyond programme should be available to every young person as a means of gaining critical life skills, finding one’s path and therefore setting themselves up for success. 

“If you’re uncertain about your future or feeling lost, this programme is the way forward,” she says. “It upskills you, gives you direction, and opens up so many possibilities for growth.”

For anyone who’s unsure about the YearBeyond programme, Sophumelela’s advice is simple: “You have nothing to lose. You have everything to gain. Just start where you are.”

Sophumelela’s journey is proof that when young people are afforded opportunities, they can turn their lives around. This is the work of YearBeyond. And at the same time it is helping children with literacy and numeracy and building a pipeline of teachers and youth mentors and coaches whose work will impact generations to come. 

For Sophumelela, the journey is far from over. She’s just getting started, and her mission is clear. She’s going to continue uplifting others, mentoring the next generation, and leading by example.