The inaugural Kouga Careers Expo 2025, which ran from April 10 to 11 at Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay, concluded successfully while establishing an important milestone for youth development and employment opportunities throughout the Kouga region.
The two-day event exceeded all expectations, providing high school learners and unemployed youth with vital resources and guidance for their future career paths.
As previously reported, the Kouga Municipality partnered with the Working World Exhibition to provide the necessary resources for young people to transition into education, training, and meaningful employment.
Together, they organised the inaugural Kouga Careers Expo at Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay on April 10 and 11.
The Kouga Careers Expo in Jeffreys Bay followed its sister event, the Working World Expo, at the Feather Market Centre in Gqeberha.
Andrew Binning, CEO, Inkanyezi Events, said that the participation of the Kouga community was very pleasing and met initial attendance projections.
He said that over 1 600 people visited the exhibition, including Grade 12 learners from 11 high schools in the region.
Binning said that around 40 different organisations participated in the exhibition, which featured educational institutions, employers (including government departments), and youth development agencies.
He said that each participant provided visitors with opportunities or resources around study and work options.
Binning said that the educational sector was represented by universities, technical colleges, and private training institutions.
He said that the business community was represented by companies from a wide spectrum of economic sectors, including engineering, alternate energy, tourism, the financial sector, and technology.
Government departments, including the Kouga Local Municipality, SANRAL, SAPS, Gamtoos Water, and Department of Labour and Employment Services, combined resources with community-based organisations.
These included the Halalisana Township Incubator, a pioneering Non-Profit entrepreneurial development Company in Humansdorp, and Action Volunteers Africa, which provided career guidance testing and counselling services.
“The participating organisations, overall, were enthused about the potential of the youth in the Kouga region, noting the significant intentionality of learners to plan their lives after school. All stakeholders in the event, including the host partner, Kouga Local Municipality, and Oasis FM, are exceptionally pleased with the outcomes of the inaugural Kouga Working World Careers Expo,” said Binning.
He further said that all the school heads and teachers with whom they engaged were highly appreciative of the value of resources and exposure given to their learners.
Binning said that these included personalised career guidance and a Career Guidance handbook.
“There is no doubt that the Kouga Working World Careers Expo has served a major need in the development of youth in the region,” said Binning.
Considering the success of the event, he said the event is likely to continue to grow with the support of organisations like the Kouga Local Municipality, Mentors Country Estate, and Oasis FM.
Binning said that increased access to all youth in the region will remain a priority.
“The event will continue to invite local and national partnerships with a wide range of community-oriented organisations that seek to address youth unemployment, in order for the youth of Kouga to reach their full potential,” said Binning.
He said that over 800 learners utilised the Career Guidance café services, including online career assessments.
Binning said that a larger percentage of identified career paths were technical or vocational, but a significant percentage were also professional.
“The Kouga Working World Careers Expo has made a substantial contribution to equipping youth with resources to make informed decisions that we all trust will result in greater numbers of youth in meaningful work and a reduction in the social ills caused by youth unemployment, in South Africa but particularly in the Kouga region,” said Binning.
He said that the Kouga event has given easy access to world-class resources that are ordinarily only available at the annual flagship Working World Expo in Nelson Mandela Bay, which has impacted over 320 000 Grade 12s over the past 26 years.
Based on the outcomes of the Kouga Career Expo, Binning said that it is highly likely that the Kouga Working World Careers Expo will become an annual highlight on the Kouga calendar.
“The event would not have been possible without the partnership of the Kouga Local Municipality and the support of Mentors Country Estate,” said Binning.
A proud moment for Kouga
Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, expressed deep pride in the success of the inaugural event.
“It is with immense pride that we welcomed the first-ever Kouga Careers Expo 2025 to our municipality,” said Bornman.
“This initiative has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what we can achieve when we work together with a shared vision. I am incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and passion shown by our municipal team and partners in making this event a reality.”
He emphasised the broader significance of the expo, calling it a catalyst for long-term change in the region.
“By equipping our youth with essential career guidance, training opportunities, and employment resources, we are not only investing in their futures but also actively shaping a more resilient and economically vibrant Kouga. This is the kind of meaningful development that truly matters.”
A platform for growth and development
Over the two days, visitors benefited from a wide array of free services and interactive exhibits, including:
• Career counselling and assessments: In-person guidance and digital career assessment tools offering personalised reports;
• Department of Education-aligned guidance: Tools and resources designed to complement the Grade 12 Life Orientation curriculum, providing structured career planning support;
• Exhibitions and networking opportunities: A chance to meet face-to-face with potential employers, higher learning institutions, SETAs, the Department of Labour, and various community-based organisations.
Bornman said that the expo enabled learners to discover diverse career pathways while providing businesses and institutions an opportunity to engage with future talent, demonstrate corporate social responsibility, and contribute directly to the fight against youth unemployment.
Looking ahead: A yearly commitment
Given the overwhelming success and community impact of this year’s event, he said that plans are already underway to establish the Kouga Careers Expo as an annual fixture on the region’s calendar.
“This is just the beginning,” Bornman said.
“We are committed to growing this platform year by year, ensuring that it continues to serve as a bridge between potential and opportunity for the youth of Kouga.”
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