Aganang Youth Foundation (AYF) is a non-profit organisation aimed at building a successful future generation.
AYF provides education and transformation programmes for high schools in all areas of Johannesburg and East of Joburg.
Founders Vincent Nkosinathi Hlatshwayo (27) and Zamantungwa Khumalo (32) started the initiative to assist school learners who under perform.
“We are from a poor background where most of our schools in the area required support when it came to education. “We soon identified the need to build this foundation,” Hlatshwayo said.
“There is a need for such an organisation, which aims to bridge the gap between the learners in schools, classified as disadvantaged, and higher education institutions to ensure the learners realise their dreams in the future.”
Hlatshwayo and Khumalo said the majority of the learners with good school marks do not reach their full potential due to the gap.
“Many get involved in crime and it all adds to the youth unemployment numbers. Unemployment is real in our communities,” said Hlatshwayo.
AYF’s goal is to also establish partnerships with all the local school districts, local municipalities, local organisations with the same objective and universities across South Africa.
Another aim for AYF is to foster commitment in the youth to promote and reassert a sense of hope for the future.
“Through education and transformation, they ensure better lives with equal opportunities.
“Due to repeated failures in the classrooms and the development of destructive habits, young people have lost faith in the possibilities that await them should they be successful in putting their lives together.
“To accomplish this goal, young people must be in a caring, inclusive learning environment that promotes their best effort and reinforces personal respect,” Hlatshwayo said.
“The AYF programmes are in direct response to the growing number of young people who are either falling through the cracks at school or pass matric but do not go to university.
“We empower young people. This means AYF will provide support to dedicated high school youth with fundamental school needs, access to tertiary education and empowerment through shared knowledge.”
