The unlikely partnership of Kompi Mareka and his mentor Kobie Myburg is one that aims to bring great change to young people of Rand West City; especially those who don’t have skills to hustle.

Between organising clean-up campaigns, collaborating awareness projects, arts and culture events and warning communities about the social ills that are compounded by unemployment, these two have big plans for the town’s youth.

“We want to be a source of motivation to people,” the pair said.

Speaking to the Herald about their plans, they said by simply bringing information to the doorstep of young people will enable them to turn around their lives.

We want to teach youngsters about how they can sign and register for different programmes where they can pick up developmental skills so that they’re marketable,” Kompi said.

He added after seeing that many of his peers were on the brink of giving up, he partnered with Kobie to work on a project that would motivate youngsters and eventually inspire others – maybe even lead by example.

They tell young people how to augment and develop skills through various agencies such as the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and Tshepo 1 Million (Gauteng Provincial Government) among others.

This is so that they can get into learnership programmes or internships, which will give them insight into different sectors and industries; or even help them start their own business enterprises,” Kompi said.

He added that this in turn would bolster the socioeconomic climate of Rand West City, and eradicate inequality among many who are continuously struggling under the effects of domestic violence and abuse.

“We’re not only addressing unemployment here, but it’s like a scheme of things in a manner they’ll understand,” Kobie added.

She said one of the things in the pipeline is the talent show, where youth will be given a platform to express themselves. There is also an educational segment where youngsters will be told about rape, alcohol and substance abuse.

“We will be showing the young people that their lives don’t have to fall apart, and actually teaching them that all these things can be avoided. We want to give them a broader mindset so that they’ll realise their lives would be far more meaningful; that there are other opportunities for them out there; and that we’re here for them,” Kobie explained.