Academy empowers Kopanong youth with digital and life skills to close skills gap

In Kopanong, where youth unemployment is high and opportunities are scarce, the Moipone Academy has been transforming lives since 2005.

The NPO is committed to uplifting the community by helping young people realise their full potential.

What began as a dream has grown into a recognised science and skills development centre. Today, the academy empowers youth aged 18 to 35 by equipping them with practical skills to transform their lives.

Its programmes focus on real-world education, providing the skills needed in today’s fast-changing job market, especially in the growing digital economy.

ALSO READ: Mobile libraries to boost literacy at 1 000 South African schools and NPOs

Young people learn computer literacy, robotics and life skills – programmes designed to prepare them for employment and self-sufficiency.

“These are not ordinary classes. They are stepping stones for learners from communities where opportunities are scarce,” said one facilitator.

The academy’s mission is to close the skills gap in under-resourced areas, especially townships, where talented youth often lack access to training, tools and opportunities that unlock a better future.

One person driving this mission is Lerato Motloung, a facilitator at the academy.

“Being here has given me the chance to do for others what no one did for me,” said Motloung.

ALSO READ: Thembisa NPO turns dumping sites into community spaces

“When I was growing up, no one introduced us to different careers or taught us useful skills. We had to figure everything out on our own. Now, I guide learners, open their eyes to new possibilities and show them there’s so much more out there for them.”

Supported by the Department of Social Development, the Department of Science and Technology Innovation (DSTI), the University of Johannesburg, Wits, the Tshwane University of Technology, the University of Pretoria and Unisa, the academy has expanded its reach while staying true to its values of accessibility, empowerment, and community upliftment.

An example of the academy’s impact is Zovuyo Notshokovu, a former volunteer with the National Research Foundation–South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (NRF-SAASTA).

ALSO READ: Appeals process for 2025/26 NPO funding opened

After working with the academy and receiving mentorship through its DSTI partnership, she secured a permanent job.
She credits the experience with turning her life around and enabling her to support her family.The academy’s doors remain open to all.

The academy creates a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment and is LGBTQIA+ friendly, where every learner is treated with dignity and encouraged to realise their full potential.

The Moipone Academy’s true success lies not in the number of certificates awarded but in the powerful stories of transformation behind each learner.

Whether a young person learning to use a computer for the first time, discovering a passion for engineering through robotics or finding a renewed sense of purpose, each story testifies to the academy’s mission.