Many young people remain emotionally stuck, lacking self-awareness and a clear sense of identity, and this threatens their ability to succeed even when opportunities arise. These were the findings shared by Thusong Youth Centre (TYC) after their youth dialogue session in Alexandra on Wednesday.

The dialogue focused on self-awareness and emotional intelligence, guiding participants to examine their triggers and assess whether they are emotionally ready for life’s demands.

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Facilitator Thumeka Joos said the session deliberately created space for deep reflection, encouraging young people to reconnect with their inner child. “We also wanted to reflect on our lives when we were younger. It was important for us to talk about our inner child,” Joos explained.

“Young people are going through a lot, so we wanted them to reflect and see if there is personal growth.”

Discussions explored both the joys and the hurt inherited in childhood to help attendees better understand their personal journeys and development. The findings, however, were sobering. Joos noted that many youth remain stuck, and some do not know themselves.

“They don’t have that self-awareness, which is basically about understanding yourself,” she said. Joos described many as damaged and struggling with identity, stressing the need to dig deeper into their challenges.

TYC programmes manager Chris Ndlovu warned of the real-world consequences of such a troubling lack of self-identity and awareness. He emphasised that young people often misunderstand their true needs, assuming a job will automatically bring fulfilment, only to find themselves unfulfilled and overwhelmed once employed.

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“Yes, you need the job, but are you ready to seize that job and what it requires of you? Are you ready for all those different personalities you will encounter and to navigate the setbacks?” he asked.

Ndlovu stressed that without proper emotional preparation, limited self-awareness can sabotage success.

The dialogue aimed to equip young people so they do not fail when opportunities arise. “It’s very important to prepare them, their emotions, well-being, and general state of mind. So that when someone comes to these young people and says, ‘here is a job,’ they don’t come back having failed,” Ndlovu said.

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