A qualification can open doors, but young people also need practical skills, workplace exposure and the confidence to put their knowledge into practice. This is the thinking behind Student National Premium NPC (SNP), a student-led organisation working to prepare young people for opportunities in the workplace, business and their communities.
Founded by Mohau Kabini, a Durban University of Technology (DUT) student pursuing an Advanced Diploma in Auditing and Taxation, SNP focuses on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, career readiness, leadership and skills development. Through its programmes, the organisation aims to give young people access to learning experiences that complement their formal education and help them prepare for life beyond their studies.
Its activities cover several areas, including financial wellness, entrepreneurship, career development, leadership, community development, health and active living.
One of its initiatives is the Visual Reporting Workshop, which introduces participants to digital tools such as Microsoft Excel and Power BI. Through practical exercises, participants learn how to work with data, analyse information and present findings. These are useful skills in many working environments, particularly where informed decisions depend on accurate information.
SNP also creates opportunities for young people to interact with academics, industry professionals and entrepreneurs. These engagements expose participants to different career paths, professional experiences and networks that they may not otherwise have access to.
The organisation’s programmes are aimed at university and TVET college students, school learners, graduates, unemployed youth, young professionals and other community members. It works towards building relationships with educational institutions, businesses and community organisations to extend the reach of its activities.
Beyond skills development, SNP is also looking at how its work with communities can contribute to research. Some of its areas of interest include financial capability, youth development, sport participation and wellbeing. By paying closer attention to the experiences of young people, the organisation hopes to better understand their needs and use these insights to improve its programmes.
This is one of the areas Kabini is exploring through his participation in DUT’s Community Engagement Practitioner-to-Scholar Programme. The programme supports students who lead community initiatives in documenting their work, reflecting on their experiences and developing their practical knowledge into scholarly contributions.
For Kabini, the programme offers an opportunity to look more closely at the work SNP is doing and consider how its experiences can inform research. It also provides a platform to examine what is working, identify areas for improvement and explore ways of strengthening the organisation’s future interventions.
Reflecting on the importance of preparing young people for life beyond formal education, Kabini said practical learning and exposure should form part of their development.
“Young people should not have to rely on academic qualifications alone to access opportunities. They need practical skills, knowledge and exposure that empower them to turn what they learn into meaningful action and build sustainable futures,” said Kabini.
Working with others is central to SNP’s approach. Through its engagements with academic institutions, industry professionals and community organisations, it seeks to bring different forms of knowledge and experience into its programmes. Such relationships also create opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing and access to resources.
However, running a student-led organisation comes with its own challenges. SNP continues to face constraints around funding, operational capacity and access to resources. Building partnerships and securing support will therefore be important as the organisation works to sustain and expand its activities.
Looking ahead, SNP hopes to take its programmes to more communities across South Africa, strengthen its strategic partnerships and improve how it monitors and evaluates its work. It also wants to make greater use of research to understand the outcomes of its initiatives and identify ways to improve them.
Through SNP, Kabini is putting his knowledge and interests into practice while creating opportunities for other young people to develop skills and explore their potential. His involvement in the Practitioner-to-Scholar Programme adds another dimension to this work, showing how community-based initiatives can also provide valuable opportunities for research and learning.
His work speaks to an important aspect of DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy: developing graduates who do more than acquire qualifications, but also use their knowledge and skills to respond to the needs of society.
For Kabini and the SNP team, the focus is on helping young people become better prepared to take up opportunities, make informed choices and, where possible, create opportunities for others.
Pictured: Students and members of the Student National Premium NPC team during a training session.
Phumeza Msongelwa
