At Le-Reng Secondary School in Ladybrand, located in the heart of the Eastern Free State, a powerful movement to shape the future leaders of South Africa is underway, led by dedicated English educator Me. Relebohile Kolobe. Through her Young Citizens Action Programme (Y-CAP), she is nurturing the growth of responsible, engaged, and empathetic youth in Grades 10 to 12.
Y-CAP, a national youth development initiative, has already gained momentum within the school, addressing critical challenges and inspiring the local community to contribute to a more positive future. The program’s current focus? Tackling learner absenteeism and late-coming, particularly affecting students from distant areas like Platberg and Mauersnek. These learners often struggle to make it to school due to the treacherous travel conditions during the rainy season, when dongas (deep erosion gullies) become flooded, making roads dangerous.
In response, the Y-CAP team is actively seeking community support by appealing for taxi fare donations and requesting local residents with transport to assist in safely getting these learners to school. To maintain safety, all volunteer drivers are provided with official school stickers for easy identification — with Mr. Lefu Lechesa being one of the first to join the volunteer team.
At a recent Local Communicators Forum (LCF) meeting in Ladybrand, Me. Kolobe proudly shared that Y-CAP was ranked among the top 20 youth-led projects in South Africa. This achievement highlights not only the school’s efforts but also the strength of community-driven leadership. She expressed her gratitude to the school principal for his unwavering support, which has been instrumental to the programme’s success.
Behind the initiative is a dedicated team of mentors and volunteers: Me. Relebohile Kolobe, Ntswaki Namane, IT trainers Joseph Tayob and Sevuyile Mlengane, public speaking coaches Mbulelo Mbira and Relebohile Kolobe, YCAP overseers Matsie Sesing and Mamohau Bookholwane, and finance officer Likabiso Lewaneka. Together, they continue to inspire hope, leadership, and a spirit of collaboration in their community.
Through Y-CAP, Le-Reng Secondary School is showing how youth empowerment, when combined with community involvement, can pave the way for a br
