enke: Make Your Mark (enke) is a leadership development organisation that generates and incubates youth-led social impact. The organisation is seeking to appoint Trailblazer+ Champions to support the delivery of the 2025/26 intake of the Trailblazer+ Program.
The Trailblazer+ Program is one of enke’s flagship initiatives, designed to empower Grade 8 and 11 high school learners to lead change in their schools and communities. Participants are equipped with the tools, support, and mentorship needed to identify pressing social and educational issues and implement Social Action Projects (SAPs) that address these challenges at a grassroots level.
The Trailblazer+ Program is a dynamic youth development experience that enables participants to build essential life and leadership skills—such as resilience, social responsibility, self-efficacy, and project management. It brings together passionate, purpose-driven young people from across South Africa and the continent, fostering collaboration and peer-to-peer learning. Previous cohorts have included participants from Windhoek, Namibia and Nairobi, Kenya.
In 2025/26, the program will be delivered in the following areas:
- Blouberg Municipality
- Bochum
- Eldorado (Limpopo Province)
There are 12 Champion positions available for this program cycle.
As an organisation that supports grassroots community development, enke encourages applications from South African candidates who are fluent in English and at least one of the local languages spoken in the targeted areas (e.g., Sepedi, Venda, Tsonga).
This is a unique opportunity to be part of a high-performing, supportive team committed to youth empowerment. Successful candidates will gain hands-on experience in facilitation, youth mentorship, and community engagement—while contributing meaningfully to social impact in South Africa.
Role/Contracting – Part Time, Maximum 9 – month commitment
Stipend – R4000 (Airtime/data and transportation assistance to be provided)
Location – Hybrid (Candidate should be able to get to Bochum or Eldorado Village)
Appointment Date – May 2025
Time Commitment – Approximately 4 days per week, including:
– 2 days delivering training and support,
– 1 day for administration and preparation,
– Availability on weekends, especially Saturdays for training delivery
About enke
The organisation was started in 2009 with the motivation of building a society that is more socially and economically inclusive. enke means “ink” in SeTswana and “take it” in SeSotho. That’s what we’re about – empowering youth to be authors of their futures by taking opportunities to change their lives and communities (making their mark).
Our vision is a world that is an enabling environment for young people to recognise their own value, thrive and mobilise for meaningful change. We achieve this vision through leadership and entrepreneurial skills development programs that provide young people (15-35 years old) with theoretical and practical skills to be actively engaged citizens that thrive socio-economically.
Our mission is to connect, equip and inspire:
- Connect across diversity, creating valuable networks, social capital and building social cohesion.
- Equip with an entrepreneurial mindset and social-emotional (power) skills; real-world skills that increase employability and help unlock opportunities for their success in life.
- Inspire a bias towards action, to achieve personal, professional, national and global development aspirations.
Since 2009 we have trained over 10,200 youth whose social impact and enterprise projects have benefitted over 139,000 people in communities across South Africa. Our work contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Quality Education (Goal 4), Gender Equality (Goal 5) and Decent Work (Goal 8).
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/ RESPONSIBILITIES
The prospective Program Officer will be responsible for:
Program Delivery, Coordination, and Participant Support Responsibilities
- Facilitate the delivery of the Trailblazer+ Program in alignment with enke’s standardized delivery manuals and guidelines.
- Attend all scheduled bi-weekly workshops at the designated training location, as advised by the enke team.
- Facilitate and support participant learning via the Online Portal, including recording and uploading lessons to the platform.
- Provide participant support through:
- 2 x 1-hour weekly live chat sessions following each workshop.
- Bi-weekly workshop reports (2 reports per month)
- Contribute to ongoing program development by participating in bi-weekly feedback meetings with the enke team.
- Commit to 3 hours bi-weekly for Trailblazer+ Program facilitation activities during the program period (May 2025 – March 2026).
- Attend all scheduled in-person or online meetings as determined by enke.
- Submit bi-weekly progress reports to the Program Officer or designated enke contact.
- Confirm attendance at each workshop day upon arrival and at the end of the session via SMS or WhatsApp to the Program Manager, Program Officer, or designated enke contact.
Trailblazer+ Champion Responsibilities: Program Support, Youth Development & Administration
- Support the 2025/26 Trailblazers (Grade 8–11 students) in initiating and completing their Social Action Projects (SAPs) designed to address social issues in their schools.
- Directly contribute to the success of youth-led initiatives, encouraging young people as they work to create change in their communities.
- Ensure Trailblazer+ Program participants feel supported by consistently treating them with respect, asking thoughtful questions, and actively listening.
- Provide guidance to participants as they form Trailblazer+ Clubs in their schools.
- Join the enke Family, gaining access to personal and professional development opportunities through enke’s broader network.
- Apply and grow administrative and communication skills in a meaningful and impactful setting.
- Enhance employability and career readiness by offering problem-solving and emotional support to Trailblazers via telephone, WhatsApp, and Facebook.
- Capture data and compile reports on the progress and needs of assigned Trailblazers.
- Assist in the coordination of events that celebrate and recognize the achievements of Trailblazers.
- Provide ad hoc support to the Program Coordinators as needed.
- Commit to a minimum of 60 hours per month, working at least 7 days per month from 11:30 to 17:30 (6 hours/day).
- Submit weekly quality assurance reports on the workshops conducted.
- Submit monthly progress reports to the Program Coordinator detailing the implementation status of Trailblazer SAPs.
- Submit monthly timesheets outlining hours worked to the Program Coordinator.
- Attend bi-weekly reflection meetings facilitated by the Program Coordinator.
Requirements
Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum studying towards a post grade 12 qualification and relevant experience (ideally in youth development; facilitation and volunteering);
- Ability to work flexible hours, as well as some evenings and weekends;
- Fluency in written and spoken English and ability to speak at least two other South African languages.
- Evidence of active engagement within a community context (e.g. volunteering, or active engagement within your community or involvement in community projects)
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, presentation skills and interpersonal skills; High level of attention to detail;
- Passion for working with young people, a pro-active energy
- Ability to accomplish tasks with minimal supervision and take direction;
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Microsoft Excel; and Word
- High personal standards and willingness to go beyond expectations;
Skills, Competencies & Knowledge:
- Outstanding problem solver – Assess problem situations to identify causes, gather and process relevant information, generate possible solutions, and make recommendations and/or resolve the problem
- A highly effective and skilled communicator; a good listener; actively seeks opinions of others in decision-making; consultative; able to inspire confidence and trust
- Possessing the charisma and personality that motivates and inspires others
- Commitment to systems improvement
- Someone who can balance a creative approach with the need to develop and follow a plan
- Relationship builder and communicator
To apply, please follow the below instructions:
We’re excited to hear from passionate, purpose-driven individuals. To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, please follow these steps:
- Complete the online application form. https://forms.office.com/r/pvmtD620E2
- Submit your CV (maximum 2 pages) and/or your application form via email to jobs@enke.org.za by 17:00, Wednesday 7 May 2025
- Please attach your ID copy
- The subject line of your email must include the position you are applying for and your name; for example – “enke Trailblazer plus champion application Limpopo – JOHN SMITH”
- Only complete applications complying with all instructions (both online application and emailed CV with correct subject line) will be considered.
- Only short-listed candidates may be contacted for follow-up interviews. Candidates who have received no response within two (2) months of the closing date should kindly assume that their application has not been successful.
- We do our best to give feedback for each application received. However, due to the large volume of applications we receive, should you not receive feedback within 30 days please consider your application unsuccessful.
