Stepping up to the plate (Pabi Moloi)

Written by Administrator
Friday, 14 October 2011 12:57

Media maven Pabi Moloi is bringing hope to promising township youth through her Presenting Yourself in Life programme. One of the main issues facing young people in South Africa today is the lack of mentorship programmes and information transference opportunities. Of those who have been blessed with opportunities, not enough are lending a hand to those that are coming after. This has resulted in a forgotten generation of young people who feel disconnected from society and who have very little in terms of employment prospects. They also lack know-how to tackle the corporate world should an opportunity present itself.

Over the past couple of years All Access Mzansi presenter Pabi Moloi started receiving countless requests from young people requesting her to act as their mentor. She really had no idea what the term meant and what responsibilities were involved. After lengthy discussions with friends and colleagues it became clear to her that though there were many successful people, such as herself, who had grown up in disadvantaged areas such as Soweto, Diepsloot and Alexandra, there was still a very desperate need amongst the township youth. Many of them longed for input that would not only expose them to academic and career prospects but also prepare them to eloquently and confidently present themselves to the world.

It was then that Pabi got a flash of inspiration for her project called Presenting Yourself in Life (PYIL). It is a social programme targeting youngsters from the townships, and it aims to show them that regardless of your background, environment and circumstance, they still have options and can emerge from a challenging past to be successful in whatever field they choose. The PYIL programme will show the youth that they have innumerable choices in life and open their eyes to the prospects out there.

The best girl for the job

Pabi is a South African media personality who has made a strong mark in the broadcast industry. She was born in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, but she grew up in the townships of Diepkloof and Pimville in Soweto, hence her awareness of the challenges facing a young person growing up in that environment. She cut her teeth as a presenter for youth channel KTV, after which she hosted the second season of the SABC3 game show Out of the Box and the SABC1 game show The Amazing Date. She’s also hosted the DSTV gospel channel One Gospel. Pabi is very much aware of how support from family, friends and influential people is invaluable to getting ahead and instilling a sense of self-assurance and security in an individual. In her journey to get to where she is today, she has been fortunate enough to have people who imparted advice and wisdom that stood her in good stead. All this is clear to see in her latest role as presenter of the popular programme All Access Mzansi.

The PYIL programme

The PYIL programme will comprise a variety of workshops targeted at learners who have been highlighted by teachers and principals as achievers and who have risen above their circumstances. During these workshops various issues will be discussed; these will range from education to self-esteem. Furthermore, representatives from various corporate firms and organisations will be approached to be part of the workshops. These representatives will discuss options relating to further studies and business development, and they will shed some light on the future options available for the learners. Through these spokespeople, media and corporates can showcase what they are doing for the youth in South Africa, and they can help by giving learners an opportunity to see and do more. As the PYIL project grows, Pabi aims to set up a bursary programme to give learners the opportunity for further study.
“I would never have learnt what I have learnt and grown as I have grown if I didn’t have the opportunities and experiences I had in my childhood,” Pabi says. “I have met amazing individuals, travelled to various countries and along the way my eyes were opened to what is out there and what I can achieve.”
At Afropolitan we fully support this venture and will be following Pabi on her journey to showcase the amazing headway that can be made when Africans invest in Africa.