'Many learners are struggling to read and write'

Her team offers programmes at Zerilda Park Primary, in Seawinds and the Ithemba Community Centre, in Vrygrond, as well as Floreat Primary, in Retreat.

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She said foundational literacy and numeracy are essential - not just for school, but for life, adding: “Without these skills, access to opportunity becomes almost impossible.”

Ms Wollenschlaeger Uys said: “Parents can only do so much. At some point, our youth must understand that their future depends on the choices they make. We are here to guide them, but they must take ownership of their journey.”

Local organisations and individuals are working tirelessly to equip youth with the tools they need to rewrite their futures, and in a community long defined by poverty, crime, and unemployment.

Where Rainbows Meet, a grassroots non-profit organisation in Vrygrond, is leading the change.

It offers young people a pathway out of hardship through education, mentorship, and life skills development.

Mymoena Scholtz, founder of Where Rainbows Meet, said they are “changing the narrative”.

“So many young people arrive at our gates weighed down by their circumstances. But once they come through, they start to believe in their potential. That’s where the real transformation begins.

With youth unemployment in the area at crisis levels and gang recruitment on the rise, the need for proactive interventions has never been greater. “Where one gangster falls, another 20 are waiting to take his place,” said Ms Scholtz.