NYDA Shifts Focus to Expanding Opportunities for Youth

Speaking during the National Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg, NYDA Executive Chairperson Dr Sunshine Myende outlined the agency’s progress since the current board assumed office in August 2025.

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) says it is transforming its role from a traditional grant provider into a broader youth development institution focused on connecting young South Africans with opportunities, skills and economic participation.

Speaking during the National Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg, NYDA Executive Chairperson Dr Sunshine Myende outlined the agency's progress since the current board assumed office in August 2025. She said the organisation has prioritised stronger governance, greater accountability and expanded partnerships while increasing its presence in communities across the country.

According to Myende, the goal is to ensure that young people, particularly those in underserved areas, have easier access to programmes and services that can help them build successful futures.

Expanding Access to Opportunities

Over the past year, the NYDA has intensified engagement with schools, universities and community organisations while participating in major economic and development platforms. These efforts have included youth-focused initiatives linked to mining, tourism, enterprise development and international engagement.

Myende said the agency has also worked to elevate the voices of South African youth on global platforms, including the United Nations.

She described the organisation's mission as bringing opportunities closer to young people while helping young people gain access to opportunities that can improve their lives and communities.

The agency has also focused on mobilising resources and building partnerships that support youth development across different sectors of the economy.

Support for Entrepreneurs and Job Seekers

One of the agency's major achievements during the reporting period was the processing of more than 1,300 grant opportunities worth over R28 million. These grants have supported young entrepreneurs who are building businesses, creating employment and contributing to local economic growth.

The NYDA has also strengthened its collaboration with the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. Through this partnership, 100,000 paid National Youth Service opportunities have been launched, providing young people with work experience while enabling them to contribute to community development and nation-building projects.

Officials believe these programmes are helping address one of South Africa's most pressing challenges by creating pathways into employment and entrepreneurship.

Preparing Youth for the Digital Economy

Looking ahead, the NYDA plans to launch the I AM THE CODE initiative in July. The programme aims to equip more than 600,000 young South Africans with skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, fintech, agritech and digital entrepreneurship.

Myende said the initiative is designed to prepare young people for emerging industries and future economic opportunities rather than focusing solely on traditional employment pathways.

She also highlighted broader government efforts to support youth development through programmes run by the Departments of Employment and Labour, Small Business Development, and Sport, Arts and Culture.

These initiatives include entrepreneurship funding, support for small businesses, spaza shop development and employment opportunities through the Presidential Employment Stimulus.

Myende said the growing coordination between government departments and partners is creating a stronger ecosystem that places young people at the centre of South Africa's development agenda and expands opportunities for meaningful participation in the economy.