By young people, for young people — how a Bloemfontein centre empowers the next generation

In the heart of the Free State, in Bloemfontein’s CBD, a once-abandoned building — shuttered during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic — now pulses with creativity, hope and youthful energy. On Oliver Tambo Road is 56 Tambo, a community centre founded and run entirely by young people, for young people.

At its helm is Tshiamo Malatji (27), whose vision is simple yet radical: to return agency and opportunity to the young people of Bloemfontein, empowering them to chart their own futures.

The Free State, much like the rest of South Africa, faces a severe unemployment problem. According to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, 37.6% of people in the province are jobless. For young people aged 15–34, unemployment is even higher at 52.1%, well above the national average of 45.5%.

“There are not many opportunities for young people here. Many opportunities in Bloemfontein are government opportunities, and often getting through the door is very difficult. Many young people in Bloem also work online for companies that do not necessarily operate in the city or have offices here, and some people do not have internet access, which means they cannot access those jobs. So a lot of what we do is about building things that empower young people to start their own projects and businesses,” said Malatji.

With varying projects like business incubation, monthly markets and community-building initiatives, 56 Tambo is a one-stop hub where the city’s young residents can find resources to start and manage their own businesses, advance their employability and immerse themselves in art and culture. Malatji said the space also allowed young people to control how the centre helps them, adding that those who used the centre often shaped the initiatives it runs.

“Many development or community centres are places where you can receive some valuable resources and assistance, but you are a recipient, not someone in control of your own life. We wanted to create a youth centre that would do things differently — a place where people can create resources and capital for themselves. So that when they develop, they feel like they are self-developing, not being developed,” said Malatji.

Building businesses from the ground up 

One of the centre’s flagship initiatives is its monthly cultural market, where more than 20 young entrepreneurs sell food, art, clothing and crafts. Unlike other markets, there are no stall fees, meaning the entrepreneurs keep 100% of their profits, which they can reinvest into their businesses.

“We created a dedicated cultural market where you know you’ll find high-quality cultural goods made by young people in our community, so people can actually spend locally — and that assists those young people in creating opportunities for their own enterprises,” said Malatji.

In addition to the market, 56 Tambo hosts a yearly film festival, CineBa!, which focuses on showcasing projects made by local filmmakers.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6RIcWkIwYH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The centre’s support does not stop at the market. It helps young people navigate the often confusing process of business compliance, connects them to local incubators, and assists with licence fees and other costs that can be barriers to formalisation. For many, this is the first step towards sustainable self-employment.

Malatji said the centre helped participants gain access to training and grants offered by the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and local incubators.

Young people attend a workshop at 56 Tambo. (Image: Supplied)

Manyenziwe Ngozwane, a young entrepreneur from KwaZulu-Natal, is one of those who have benefited from 56 Tambo’s enterprise support.

The centre inspired Ngozwane to start a crocheting business. She told Daily Maverick that she finally felt she had a space where she could showcase her work, but beyond that, the centre offered her real support.

“The centre was not really what I was used to. It was my first time being in a space where you are encouraged to build yourself without having to pay a fee or where the centre is not expecting to benefit anything from your work,” said Ngozwane.

With the help of Malatji and other volunteers at 56 Tambo, Ngozwane registered her business with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission and participated in an NYDA programme focused on training young people on how to start and operate a business. She earned a diploma in Business Management in 2024. She said the training helped her understand what was lacking in the management of her business and how to improve it — a learning opportunity she greatly valued.

“Whenever there is any workshop or training happening within Bloemfontein, 56 Tambo lets us know about it and encourages us to go. Even when only one person from the centre is invited, they say: ‘Let’s all go’, because an opportunity for one is an opportunity for all,” she said.

Community network

Malatji said that 56 Tambo’s most impactful initiative was providing internet access to young people who would otherwise go without.

“Most of the young people who come to our centre are not in education, employment, or training. Access to the internet allows them to brush up on skills, access books in our digital library and save money they would have spent on data for other essentials,” he said.

Taking things further, the centre is building a local offline community network. With its first access point already live, the network allows anyone in the area to connect, communicate, share files and listen to podcasts or access a digital library, without the need for data or airtime.

Malatji said the centre was looking into launching servers across the city so more young people can access the offline network.

Another cornerstone is the Library Project. Recognising that public libraries often lack literature relevant to young people, especially conscious African literature and academic resources, the centre has curated its own collection.

“Our library is focused on books that activate young people in meaningful ways, whether political, academic or personal,” said Malatji.

What sets the centre apart is its commitment to youth leadership. Management and decision-making are handled by young people, most in their early twenties. The centre operates on an opt-in, volunteer basis, blurring the lines between beneficiary and organiser.

“Recipients become organisers themselves,” said Malatji. “As they start to solve their own problems, they realise they can play a role in solving the problems of others.”

By revitalising a neglected building, the centre has brought new vibrancy to central Bloemfontein, attracting young people to artistic events and entrepreneurial opportunities. DM