Cell C’s youth empowerment project, SEE YOUTH, has partnered with Tomorrow Trust to invest in youth development through a holistic supplementary educational programme for Grade 9 learners. Cell C also provides comprehensive bursary support to deserving young South Africans through the Tomorrow Trust Tertiary Programme.

In 2023, Cell C extended its partnership with Tomorrow Trust to provide a cohort of 30 Grade 9 learners with career, entrepreneurial, educational (academic support), wellness, and social aspects and support. SEE YOUTH recognises that these areas are connected and play crucial roles in shaping a child’s overall well-being and prospects in education.

The SEE-YOUTH-sponsored Grade 9 learners undergo intensive and insightful supplementary educational classes and workshops held by the Holiday and Saturday School Programme at Tomorrow Trust. In the past six months, the cohort of learners attended 15 TLT workshops that focused on conflict resolution, debating, self-acceptance, personal reflection, emotional intelligence, bullying, voting, and Gender-Based Violence. Learners also had the opportunity to attend 2 mental health workshops, 28 Robotics lessons, and 28 Coding lessons. During each workshop and lesson, learners are provided not only with quality education but also nutritious meals enabling them to maintain a high concentration and active participation. A total of 1,848 meals were sponsored by Cell C SEE YOUTH.

Although education is prioritised for the cohort of learners, Tomorrow Trust acknowledges and emphasises on the psychosocial support and development provided to them. In the programme, Tomorrow Trust has implemented an application called ItsOKTech, an emotional intelligence app used by learners and monitored by Tomorrow Trust registered Psychologists. This assists Tomorrow Trust in safeguarding the mental health of the learners. The cohort of Grade 9 learners sponsored by Cell C SEE YOUTH displays active engagement on the ItsOKTech application. 73% of these learners indicated that they understand their emotions, making us aware that they are acknowledging their emotions and feelings which is something that we want them to be aware of.

For the remainder of 2023, the cohort of learners will be continuing with their ongoing learning and workshops. They will also be engaging in an art competition, academic assessments, robotics competitions, and at the end of the year, Tomorrow Trust and Cell C SEE YOUTH will be having an awards ceremony to honour the learners and highlight their successes while enrolled in the Holiday and Saturday School Programme.

In a world where holistic education and youth empowerment are paramount, the partnership between Cell C SEE YOUTH and Tomorrow Trust stands as a strong example of how collaboration can positively transform the lives of young learners. Through their dedication to nurturing academic advancement, psychosocial well-being, and digital innovation, this dynamic partnership equips Grade 9 learners with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of education and technology. As the journey continues, the impact of this initiative will undoubtedly ripple through South Africa, creating a brighter and more empowered future for all.