Le-Reng Secondary champions Youth Leadership through Y-CAP
At Le-Reng Secondary School in Ladybrand, nestled in the heart of the Eastern Free State, efforts to groom future leaders are in full swing led by dedicated English educator, Me. Relebohile Kolobe.
Passionate about youth development, Me. Kolobe introduced the Young Citizens Action Programme (Y-CAP), a national initiative aimed at empowering learners in Grades 10 to 12 to become responsible, engaged, and caring members of society.
With the help of her colleagues and enthusiastic learners, the programme has gained momentum and is already addressing pressing issues within the school community.
Speaking at a recent Local Communicators Forum (LCF) meeting in Ladybrand, Me. Kolobe shared that the current focus of the Y-CAP team is tackling learner absenteeism and late-coming challenges especially faced by students from distant areas like Platberg and Mauersnek. These learners often struggle to reach school, particularly during the rainy season, when the dongas (deep erosion gullies) fill with water and create dangerous travel conditions. As a result, many miss valuable school time.
To address this, the Y-CAP team is actively calling on members of the community for support. They are appealing for taxi fare donations and urging residents with transport to assist in safely getting learners to school. As part of the safety protocol, volunteer drivers are issued official school stickers to ensure easy identification. One of the first to receive his sticker was Mr Lefu Lechesa, who recently joined the growing group of volunteers.
Me. Kolobe proudly revealed that the Y-CAP initiative at Le-Reng Secondary was recently ranked among the top 20 youth-led projects in South Africa an achievement that not only brings pride to the school but also shines a positive light on the entire community. She extended heartfelt thanks to the school principal, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in the programme’s success.
The initiative is backed by a committed team that includes mentors Relebohile Kolobe and 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 and demonstrate the power of community-driven leadership development in action.