Country of Residence
South Africa
Age
18
Project title
StepUp
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
StepUp is a community-driven initiative focused on addressing key socio-economic challenges in Olievenhoutbosch through localized, actionable, and sustainable solutions. The organization aims to inspire collective action and empower residents through skill-building, educational support, and grassroots development.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Facebook, Jay Carl
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
My Spark moment was when I got out of school last this year and realized how young people got rejected by varsities because of number of pass rate and how learners struggle to have information about careers that's when an idea of NextUp, an organisation which I was in last year sparked in to help the upcoming once to be engaged in this leadership and reduce the number of youth unemployment
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
I am helping to solve the problem of lack of skills, information and the rate of unemployment rate in our community
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
The StepUp Community Empowerment Initiative addresses youth unemployment and educational gaps in Olievenhoutbosch by establishing local skills workshops, weekend academic mentorship. By mobilizing neighborhood volunteers, partnering with local businesses, and empowering youth leaders through a three-phase rollout strategy, StepUp drives sustainable, grassroots development to build a safer, more self-reliant community.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
The StepUp Community Empowerment Initiative will transform Olievenhoutbosch by equipping young people with practical job skills and academic support, directly lowering local unemployment and raising educational outcomes. Most importantly, by placing local residents and youth at the center of these solutions, StepUp builds a culture of active citizenship and lasting self-reliance across the township.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
established organizations in Olievenhoutbosch such as the Olieven Development Association (ODA) and municipal initiatives like the Ithuba Youth Programme focus on isolated services such as broad soft-skills training, disaster relief, or city-wide portal registrations, StepUp introduces a hybrid, localized model designed specifically for community ownership.
How many people are on your team?
6
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Project Director which is me : Strategic oversight, community stakeholder, and overall management. Youth & Skills Development Coordinator: Workshop design and trade/digital training. Academic Support & Mentor: Tutors and weekend study circles. Community Operations & Safety Lead: Event logistics, , and safety liaison. Communications & Outreach Officer: Community engagement, onboarding, and project documentation. Partnerships & Resource Mobilizer: External funding and Sponsorship
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
-Host introductory meetings with local school principals, and community structures to finalize operating spaces for weekend study circles. -Launch formal 4-week modules covering basic digital literacy, CV creation, and trade-oriented job preparation for youth. -Assess pilot outcomes by tracking learner academic performance, workshop attendance rates -Partner with local businesses, tradespeople, and small enterprises to establish formal apprenticeship and work-experience placements for program graduates. -Replicate the study circle in another extension of Olievenhoutbosch based on year-one operational learnings.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
To inspire community action and recruit volunteers for StepUp I will encourage local WhatsApp groups, school networks, and face-to-face gatherings to share tangible local stories rather than general statistics. By hosting low-barrier, hands-on events that residents can experience immediate results and see the value of participating. Offering clear micro-volunteering roles and recognizing youth contributors with mentorship or reference letters turns casual interest into active, ongoing commitment.
