Tsakani – Bongiwe Simelane, young people’s leader at International Ministries for Christ, hosted the Stuck in the Middle Young Adults Seminar event on June 11.

The event was fully funded by the church, which said it was inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:11.

“It was born from seeing many young adults struggling between youth and adulthood, feeling overlooked, uncertain about their future, and lacking mentorship, opportunities, and life guidance.

“The aim was to bridge the gap between the church and the community by showing that the church is not immune to the challenges people face,” she said.

Simelane emphasised that another aim of the event was to create awareness and help tackle issues such as unemployment, lack of knowledge, and identity struggles among young people.

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She explained that the church is a trusted place where young people can be reached, supported, and encouraged.

“We believe the church should not only preach but also help address real-life challenges, support small businesses, and create opportunities for growth and employment, directly or indirectly.

“As a youth leader, it saddened me to see young people spending their days with no sense of direction.

“Many told me they wanted to start businesses but lacked funding, skills, knowledge, or guidance,” she added.

“Some start but struggle to grow or sustain their businesses. We felt it was important to equip our people with the skills and knowledge needed to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.”

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Simelane cited that they wanted local entrepreneurs to hear real stories and see that many businesses start with very little.

One example was Ncosi Wash, who started with nothing more than his hands, tekkies, water, and soap.

“We wanted honest conversations about both personal and business challenges. We spoke about healing, decision-making, faith, and entrepreneurship.

“Young people learn best from people who have already walked the journey and can share real-life experiences,” Simelane cited.

Attendees were taught about the importance of selling, identifying opportunities around them, and making use of existing markets within the township economy.

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They were encouraged to start small and build from there. One key lesson was that people should focus on starting before seeking funding.

Thabang Shayi, one of the speakers, explained that many people want funding before gaining any business experience.

He highlighted that once you have started, you understand your business better and know exactly what support you need.

He highlighted mentorship and networking as essential.

“Entrepreneurship creates opportunities, promotes self-reliance, and contributes to economic growth within the community,” said Shayi.

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Several moments stood out during the event; a nail and beauty business owner offered to train two people free of charge and provide one person with a one-year learnership at her salon.

A crochet business owner also offered free skills training to attendees.

MC of the event, Vusi Gcabashe, believes that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful tools to reduce unemployment in South African communities.

He explained that the initiative was born from his own experience of feeling stuck and struggling to navigate the business world without guidance.

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“I was once stuck, and it is hard to navigate that space without mentors or leaders who have been there before to show you how to get unstuck,” he said.

He described mentors as side mirrors who help business owners identify blind spots and avoid costly mistakes, while networking creates connections that can open doors to funding, partnerships and new opportunities.

According to him, communities need to move beyond relying solely on employment and start embracing business ownership.

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