BY NOMSA DLAMINI
MATSAPHA – A group of 25 young people have successfully graduated from a Design Thinking and Mental Resilience training, hosted by the Likusasa Letfu in partnership with Professors Without Borders, held at the Matsapha Business Centre. The program aimed to equip participants with practical problem-solving skills, creativity, and emotional resilience to thrive in today’s fast-changing world.
One of the facilitators, Kasia Hanula, shared insights on the impact of the training, “design thinking is not an easy methodology to grasp initially, especially for those with little project experience. However, its creative approach to problem-solving made the sessions exciting. We used hands-on activities to demonstrate how these tools apply to real-life issues defined by the participants themselves.”
Participants were also guided through fast-paced exercises to test their creativity, response time, and ability to handle complex challenges, boosting their confidence and collaborative thinking.
Hanula noted that participants grew more confident and enthusiastic about developing solutions that benefit their communities. “We challenged them with exercises that tested their speed, creativity, and ability to face ‘impossible’ challenges. By the end, they saw themselves as capable problem solvers,” she added.
The program is now continuing with a second group of participants, which includes members of the Deaf community, gender-based violence (GBV) survivors, and young or teen mothers. This diverse group is currently undergoing the same week-long training, which runs daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability.
The initiative aims to enhance employability, personal growth, and community development through empowering young people with practical tools for real-world challenges.
(Courtesy Pics)
