Founded by three CPUT alumni, an organisation seeking to address youth development in the Eastern Cape has been launched on the Bellville Campus.
A launch event for the non-profit organisation, Mpumakoloni Youth Initiative (MYI), was held recently with the support of units in the Student Affairs Department.The event’s theme was “If time is money, we will spend ours on youth development because time matters”. It was attended by CPUT students and staff as well as guests from the Actuarial Society of South Africa, Eskom, Petro SA, the Institute for Maritime Technology, and WC Department of Agriculture.
The organisation is the brainchild of Mathematical Technology alumni Simamkele Qwele, Mazisi Mlakalaka and Paula Damane and seeks to be part of government’s interventions geared towards addressing the high unemployment rate and substandard living conditions in Tsomo, a town in the Eastern Cape whose district municipality was identified by the government as a priority for development.
Thomas Farrar, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Physics who also serves on the Advisory Board of MYI, gave a short introduction highlighting the need for youth development initiatives like MYI in the Eastern Cape. Farrar commended the founders of MYI for taking to heart the notion of community engagement, one of the pillars of higher education along with teaching and research.
John Farmer, Head of Department of Mathematics and Physics, spoke about how he had observed the MYI founders’ growth and maturity during their years as students, and how proud the department is to see its graduates pursuing such a noble cause.
MYI has recently accepted a Mathematical Technology student to do their Work Integrated Learning at the organisation.
Eskom’s Mandisi Stwayi, also a CPUT alumnus, spoke about the challenges he faced as a graduate finding his way in the corporate world and the importance of giving back to CPUT and the wider community.
Keynote speaker Pedro Mzileni, a former SRC president and sociology researcher at Nelson Mandela University, said true leadership is about serving others rather than one’s self-interests and about making informed decisions based on evidence. Mzileni also mentioned the need for a healthy relationship between university executive management and staff, on the one hand, and students on the other, in order for progress to be achieved.
The MYI extends special thanks to all the university’s departments which were involved and JTL CPUT Christian Society for their support and sponsorship of the event.
