Young and Empowered to Drive Change

My name is Nkagisang Mongalenyane, I was born and raised in Postmasburg, Newtown. My journey with community work began in 2016 when I started volunteering at a soup kitchen in Marantheng. I helped wherever I could, and over time, that small beginning grew into a deeper commitment to making a difference in my community.

My involvement with FETCH started when I joined a focus group where young people came together to talk about the services available to us. We discussed how these services contribute to our growth and the development of our town, and how we can better access them.

FETCH (Facilitate. Empower. Transform. Connect. Hope) is a youth-focused coaching and community-strengthening initiative developed by the DGMT. With years of research and advocacy behind it, FETCH works closely with communities, civil society organisations, and partners to help young people unlock their full potential. In Tsantsabane, the programme is led by TADS (Tsantsabane Alcohol and Drug Services), a local organisation with a long history of working with youth. The core FETCH team provides ongoing training and support. Since then, TADS has been hosting regular youth engagements and established the Tsantsabane Youth Collective.

FETCH in our area is supported by The Lesedi Solar Park Trust, which has played a big role in making these opportunities possible.

One thing I’ve come to realise is how important it is to have more youth-led programmes spaces where young people can engage directly with different stakeholders and hold them accountable, especially when it comes to responding to the needs of our communities.

What I connect with most about the FETCH programme is its ability to create those spaces. Through it, young people can come together, express their concerns, and raise issues like the lack of facilities, access to further education, and limited job opportunities.

I’m also proud to be one of the youngest members serving on the SANRAL Project Liaison Committee. In this role, I help make sure that the project runs fairly and creates real opportunities for small and medium enterprises. I also serve as a ward committee member, working to ensure that young people have a voice and are represented in every space where decisions about our future are made.

I believe that if more young people are empowered and included in the right spaces, we won’t just be asking for change, we’ll be driving it.