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Cape Town – Situated north of Kempton Park on the East Rand in Gauteng, South Africa, is Tembisa, a large township home to over 400 000 residents, many of whom struggle to find work as the issue of youth unemployment, specifically, continues.
On Wednesday, to discuss the issue at hand, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were met by Melony Campbell from the British High Commission who introduced Tashmia Ismail-Saville, CEO of YES – an initiative launched by President Ramaphosa in 2018, aiming to tackle the critical issue of youth unemployment by creating one million new work opportunities in the next three years.
The Duke and Duchess went on a walking tour of the hub’s various entrepreneurial and skills programmes, to learn more about the community.
Their first stop saw them engaging with the youth about their experience benefitting from the programme and the digital skills they’ve learned.
Amazed, Prince Harry smiled as he watched a young woman on a tablet. "You all have the skills in your fingers," he said.
The Duke and Duchess also visited Blossom Care Solutions – that currently produces 80 000 sanitary towels per month, all of which are 100% compostable and sold at an affordable price to the local community – to hear from some of the inspiring young women chosen to be trained and mentored through the programme.
Harry and Meghan greeted and shook hands with the women. Duchess Meghan even went back for a sweet handshake with another.
Harry followed suit before telling the women dressed in white lab coats, "You look so smart."
The Duke and Duchess were taken inside where they watched how the sanitary towels are made. Taking it in his hands, Prince Harry looked rather impressed, while Meghan commented that they work they're doing for their community is "great".
Speaking to the women earlier, she also gestured and exclaimed, "I love it!"
Before leaving, the Prince Harry made an impassioned speech.
"It’s moments like today and meeting all of you, that inspires us," he said. "Whether supporting young entrepreneurs, empowering women and girls, or challenging the issue of gender-based violence; whether it’s been planting trees, clearing landmines, or protecting the most beautiful creatures and places on the planet, these experiences have affirmed our love of Africa, and the issues that are so important to us.
"We will firmly stand up for what we believe. We are fortunate enough to have a position that gives us amazing opportunities, and we want to do all we can to play our part in building a better world.
"We will always seek to challenge injustice and to speak out for those who may feel unheard. So no matter your background, your nationality, your age or gender, your sexuality, your physical ability, no matter your circumstance or colour of your skin – we believe in you, and we intend to spend our entire lives making sure you have the opportunity to succeed – and to change the world."
SEE HIS SPEECH HERE:
