Thokoza learners reach national leadership finals with Second Chance project
Tiisetsong Secondary School learners were among the top 10 finalists in the 2026 AECI Future Leaders Challenge, recognised for an initiative supporting and encouraging fellow learners to stay in school.
Young leaders from Tiisetsong Secondary School in Thokoza have made their community proud after reaching the national finals of the 2026 AECI Future Leaders Challenge.
The inspiring project aims to help fellow learners stay in school. Their initiative, Second Chance School Hub, supports young people by providing guidance and encouragement as they work to improve their circumstances.
Finalists selected
The team was among 10 finalists selected from more than 500 team entries, placing their school among the country’s standout young leadership initiatives.
The finalists represented nine schools across five provinces and took part in a bootcamp in Johannesburg on October 28 and 29. The awards ceremony followed in Sandton on October 30.
Through Second Chance School Hub, the Tiisetsong learners showed how young people can identify challenges affecting those around them and take meaningful steps to make a difference.
“Our project aims to support, guide and give learners a better chance to improve themselves and be better versions of themselves,” the AECI team said in a statement.
Servant leadership
The achievement reflected the spirit of the AECI Future Leaders Challenge, delivered in partnership with Primestars, which encouraged learners to identify a need in their schools or communities and take responsibility for developing a project to address it.
When asked what servant leadership meant to them, the learners offered a response that captured the heart of their initiative: “It means serving others and putting them first before yourself.”
Their message also extended to other young people who might want to follow in their footsteps and participate in a similar challenge. “Be yourself, work hard, be curious and go for it,” they advised.
By reaching the national finals, the Tiisetsong Secondary School learners showed that leadership was not simply about personal achievement but also about recognising others’ struggles and using one’s own initiative to create opportunities for change.
Their Second Chance School Hub project stood as an inspiring example of young people taking the lead, championing their peers and working towards a future in which more learners could be allowed to succeed.
