HANDS-ON Experience Learning November 2025 | Issue 32
OPPORTUNITY
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Support young people to keep their grip on opportunity
WHAT LIES BENEATH: UNDERSTANDING HOW POVERTY AFFECTS YOUNG PEOPLE — AND HOW THEY CAN FIND NEW HOPE In South Africa in 2025, more than a third (35%) of young people aged 15 to 24 are not in employment, education, or any form of skills training. Among those aged 25 to 34, the figure rises to 44%, highlighting a deepening crisis in youth readiness for work and economic participation. Growing up — and remaining — trapped in poverty doesn't just mean going without material necessities. It also chips away at a person’s self-esteem, sense of agency, social trust, and ultimately, hope. These less visible dimensions of poverty show that breaking the cycle isn't only about creating more jobs; it requires addressing deeper emotional and social impacts as well.
This learning brief looks at the thinking behind the “FETCH” model and how it is put to use in a practical way to help young people from disadvantaged communities “fetch the future” they aspire to.
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Recognising this aspect is key to unlocking new opportunities and someone’s sense of hope. Because poverty is multidimensional, the solution should be too. DGMT believes that young people’s struggles with poverty should be viewed and understood in a holistic manner. That’s why we at DGMT have invested in an approach that connects young people to the right level of support, based on their needs — from having secure and decent income to being able to handle life in a resilient way.
WHAT LIES BENEATH: UNDERSTANDING HOW POVERTY AFFECTS YOUNG PEOPLE — AND HOW THEY CAN FIND NEW HOPE
Issue 32 /// November 2025