Celebrating 10 Years of YearBeyond – A Decade of Empowering South Africa’s Youth

YearBeyond marks its 10th anniversary this year, and to celebrate a special gathering of partners and stakeholders took place during the initial launch month, celebrating a decade of impactful youth development and community empowerment. What started in 2014 with a vision to close the education gap and create pathways to employment has grown into a national success story, transforming the lives of thousands of young South Africans.

From its humble beginnings with just 16 YeBoneers working in 4 schools, YearBeyond has expanded its reach and impact over the last decade. In 2024, the programme now engages more than 3000 YeBoneers across 515 sites including libraries and ECD centres, reaching more than 40,000 beneficiaries annually. The programme’s growth is further demonstrated by its expansion to 10 programme streams, supported by 59 partners, 108 mentors, and 7 funders.

Minister, Ricardo Mackenzie, shared his well wishes. “YearBeyond gives opportunities to over 3,500 young people each year to gain experience supporting children with reading and life skills. Started in the Western Cape and now active in two provinces, YearBeyond is one of the leading national youth service programmes. Young people who participate are actively helping to build a culture of reading and close the education gap in a country where 8 out of 10 children cannot read for meaning by age 10. YearBeyond is also building an active citizen base, with more than half of the youth continuing to serve their communities in a voluntary capacity after they graduate. We are extremely proud to celebrate these achievements”

YearBeyond’s ability to scale is not just a testament to the effectiveness of its model, it also reflects the deep need for such a programme across South Africa.

Stefan Howell, Director of Score/Hope Through Action, who was a contributor on the power of service panel likened the work of YeBo to that of a web, highlighting the impact of the programme as doing more than just connecting youth to opportunities but also strengthening the connections within communities.

The celebration unveiled the YeBo Institute a new entity set up to drive YearBeyond’s growth. As we look to the future, the hope is to expand YearBeyond’s impact across South Africa and the Continent. YearBeyond remains committed to multiplying its impact over the next decade, creating new opportunities for youth and ensuring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.