YearBeyond, also known as YeBo, is an innovative Youth Service partnership that brings together the Western Cape Government, Community Chest, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, and various NGOs. The brand's primary goal is to empower individuals aged 18 to 25 by providing them with valuable work experience and a pathway to further studies or employment. Additionally, YearBeyond promotes a culture of active citizenship and volunteerism.

Through a range of programs and initiatives, YearBeyond offers comprehensive support to young people. These include the Shukuma Programme, Wellbeing Champions Programme, ECD Programme, Libraries Programme, Academic Programme, @Homelearning Programme, Scouting in Schools, and Planet Youth Programme. YearBeyond's flagship program, YeBo Education, has been running since 2015.

It trains motivated individuals to serve as teachers' assistants, providing after-school literacy and numeracy programs for grade 3 and 4 learners in under-resourced schools across the Western Cape. To date, this program has benefited over 8,000 learners annually. A recent independent evaluation study revealed the positive impact of YearBeyond.

It found that participants had greater clarity on career options, increased motivation to study further, and successful pathways into work or higher education. Moreover, participating primary school learners demonstrated statistically significant improvements in Maths and English performance. YearBeyond is dedicated to addressing the challenges of youth unemployment holistically, creating a brighter future for young people in South Africa.

If you want to learn more about the YeBo program and its inspiring stories, visit their website or get in touch with them directly