Youth Day career expo ignites hope and ambition at the Apartheid Museum
A powerful collaboration between the Apartheid Museum and SOJO Helping Hands Foundation inspires young minds with history, career opportunities, and messages of activism.
In a proud and impactful partnership, the Apartheid Museum and the SOJO Helping Hands Foundation hosted a meaningful and energising Youth Day Career Expo.
The event brought together learners, professionals, local businesses, and community members to honour the legacy of youth activism and inspire future generations. Held at the iconic Apartheid Museum, the expo welcomed Grade 10 to 12 learners, university students, and young people from surrounding communities.
It offered an interactive platform to explore a wide range of careers, from hospitality and engineering to law enforcement, healthcare, education and more.
The day was filled with vibrant engagements and inspirational talks. The keynote address by Ma Antoinette Sithole, sister of Hector Pieterson, brought emotional weight and historical perspective to the event.
Sharing her message with the youth, she said:
“To me, the meaning of Youth Day is how to tackle your own problems. As youth, you should be out there writing placards to say, ‘we are tired of gender-based violence.’ As parents, we will support you. Make a bold statement. You will be supported by billions out there in the world.”
Nicky Vakaloudis, CEO of the SOJO Helping Hands Foundation, reflected on the significance of the day:
“This event was a powerful platform for our young people to experience, firsthand, the importance of respecting our history while embracing the future. The expo provided an opportunity to explore different career options and learn what it takes to succeed. We are proud of the impact it had in motivating our youth and opening their minds to the limitless possibilities.”
The programme also featured thought-provoking contributions from Dr Tshepo Moloi, head of history at the University of Johannesburg, and Esinako Ndabeni, an acclaimed writer and traditional healer. Both speakers shared valuable insights on identity, history, and the critical role of young people in shaping a better tomorrow.
Vakaloudis extended her thanks to the Apartheid Museum for hosting and supporting the initiative, as well as to the event’s partners and sponsors. Special appreciation was given to exhibition sponsor Pat Cronning from ExpoGuys for the professional setup, and all the participating businesses and organisations that shared their time and expertise.
These included: ExpoGuys, Auto Expedi-8 Bosch Car Service, SOJO Business and Tourism, South African Police Service (Gauteng Provincial Social Crime Prevention Unit), Keready, Pam Golding, The Persistent, Fidelity and ADT Security Group, Virgin Active Meyersdal, Legends Barbershop, and others.
“Together, we reaffirm our commitment to youth empowerment and to building a more hopeful, skilled and visionary generation,” Vakaloudis concluded.
