A growing partnership between the Beacon of Light Oasis Centre and Shell South Africa is creating new opportunities for young people in the south of Johannesburg, with a focus on skills development, career guidance and real workplace experience.

A shared vision for community upliftment

The collaboration forms part of the centre’s wider vision to uplift communities by investing in youth and equipping them with the tools they need to build meaningful futures.

The Beacon of Light Oasis Centre was established with a clear purpose to become a place of hope and development for young people in the region.

The centre works closely with community partners and organisations that share the same commitment to supporting families, young people and communities in need.

According to the centre’s leadership, the partnership with Shell South Africa began through a mutual connection within the Christian community.

That introduction led to discussions with partners involved in training and skills development, including Shan West Training and The Skills Compliance Institute.

During early meetings, the partners quickly realised they shared a common goal: to help youth and thereby strengthen communities.

“Once we started listening to each other, we realised we had the same passion for helping youth, families and communities,” explained managing director of The Skills Compliance Institute (TSCI), Adeline Singh. “That is how the partnership began.”

The collaboration was further strengthened when The Skills Compliance Institute became involved. The institute is an accredited training provider focused on skills development and career guidance.

Singh, who previously worked with the national training authority under the Ministry of Higher Education, said the partnership offered an opportunity to work directly within communities.

“In many cases, programmes exist on paper but are not always visible on the ground,” said Adeline Singh. “I was looking for a partnership where people truly wanted to be present in communities and make a real impact in people’s lives.”

After meeting with the Beacon of Light team and hearing the centre’s vision, she believed the initiative could become a powerful model for community-based learning and development.

Focused on opportunity and hope

South Africa has long faced challenges in providing accessible tertiary education and career guidance for young people.

Many learners must travel long distances to reach colleges or universities, and thousands leave school without a clear career direction.

The Beacon of Light Oasis Centre hopes to help bridge this gap.

Through its programmes, the centre focuses on youth empowerment, career direction, family support and community upliftment.

A major part of the initiative is providing career guidance to learners and young adults who may not yet know which path to follow.

Career guidance sessions allow young people to sit down with mentors and map out possible career options.

These discussions often include coaching, counselling and practical advice about different industries.

The programme also helps learners understand subject choices at school and how those decisions affect their future career paths.

“In many schools, learners are told to simply search online for study options,” the programme leader, Pastor Leo Kirsten, explained. “But many of them need someone to sit with them and guide them step by step.”

Creating pathways from school to employment

The partnership with Shell South Africa adds another important element to the centre’s work: practical workplace preparation.

Through the collaboration, groups of interns are placed at the Beacon of Light Oasis Centre, where they participate in a work-readiness incubation programme. The centre serves as a training environment where young people gain hands-on experience in professional settings.

Interns are trained in a wide range of workplace skills, including email communication, customer interaction, office etiquette and computer literacy.

“We do not take anything for granted,” said Kirsten. “For many young people, these are skills they have never been taught before.”

Participants are divided into different functional teams such as marketing, human resources, project administration, information technology and finance. They rotate between roles to gain experience in several areas of business operations.

The goal is to ensure that when they eventually enter the workplace, they are confident, adaptable and multi-skilled.

The programme also gives participants the chance to apply their knowledge in real community projects. Rather than just learning theory, interns help organise events and initiatives aligned with the centre’s broader mission.

These may include youth competitions, community campaigns and development projects aimed at improving the surrounding area.

Member of the board of directors, Dr Theo Veldsman, says this practical approach is essential.

“They are not just sitting in an office doing exercises. They will see the real results of the projects they help organise, whether it is a community event, a youth competition or a campaign that brings people together. You know: In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice, except in practice”

Partnerships driving community impact

At the heart of the Beacon of Light vision is a strong belief that investing in youth is essential to the future of our country.

“We believe that investing in youth is investing in the nation,” the centre’s leadership said. “If we can help young people believe that they are in charge of their own destiny, we can create a generation that contributes positively to society.”

The centre aims to support young people from early childhood through to their transition into the working world. Programmes are being designed for various stages of development, including early childhood stimulation, literacy support in primary school, leadership and career preparation in high school, and workplace readiness after matric.

Partnerships with organisations like Shell South Africa play a crucial role in making these ambitions possible.

The centre also recently received Section 18A status from the South African Revenue Service, allowing donors to claim tax benefits for contributions to the organisation.

This recognition is expected to attract further investment and support from businesses and community partners.

For the team behind the initiative, the growing network of partnerships is a sign that the vision is beginning to take shape.

“The dream we spoke about at the opening of the centre is now becoming a reality,” said Pastor Kirsten and Dr Veldsman. “People are coming together, and we are starting to see real change taking place.”

With continued support from partners such as Shell South Africa, the Beacon of Light Oasis Centre hopes to expand its programmes and continue building opportunities for young people across the south of Johannesburg.

The Beacon of Light Oasis also invites everyone to get involved. If you would like to join or support the centre in bringing hope to the youth of South Johannesburg, please contact the programme leader, Leo Kirsten, on 061 907 4778 or email beaconoflightoasis@gmail.com