Matome Raphasha

Genius Youth Academy · Ages 13–18

Future-ready skills for
young South Africans.

Hands-on AI, entrepreneurship and career programmes that help learners build confidence, solve real problems and see what is possible for their future.
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An initiative of Career Builders Foundation NPO

AI skills · Entrepreneurship · Careers · Digital safety

Career Builders Foundation

An initiative of

Career Builders Foundation NPO

Genius Youth Academy is an initiative of Career Builders Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation with a mission to expand access to quality skills development and job opportunities for marginalised and disenfranchised communities.
Every programme we run supports that mission, giving young people the skills, confidence and opportunities to build a better future.

Why it matters

Young people need more than marks to thrive.

Many learners finish school without ever using technology to solve a real problem, test a business idea or explore a career. Our programmes close that gap with practical, guided experiences that build the skills and mindset they need next.

Confidence with AI

Learners understand how AI works and use it creatively and safely for school, projects and ideas.

An entrepreneurial mindset

They learn to spot problems, test ideas and turn them into something real.

Career clarity

Exposure to digital careers, subject choices and real professionals helps them plan ahead.

Safe digital habits

Privacy, misinformation and responsible use are part of every programme.

Our programmes

Choose a programme for your learners.

Core skills

AI skills programmes

Ages 13–15

AI Explorers

What AI is, how it works and how to use it safely and creatively for schoolwork, art and problem solving.
  • Weekly after-school sessions over a term
Enquire about this

Ages 16–18

AI Creators

Prompting, AI-assisted research and writing, and building simple tools or chatbots with no-code platforms. Ends with a project showcase.
  • Term programme or holiday camp
Enquire about this

All ages

Digital Safety and AI Ethics

Deepfakes, misinformation, privacy and responsible use, in language young people relate to.
  • Standalone workshop, school assembly or parents’ evening
Enquire about this

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship programmes

Ages 14–18

Young Founders Bootcamp

Learners spot a problem in their community and design and test a small business idea, using AI for research, branding and marketing. Ends in a pitch day.
  • 3–5 day bootcamp
Enquire about this

Ages 16–18

Side-Hustle Lab

Practical micro-business skills: pricing, social media selling, simple bookkeeping and customer service, with AI tools at each step.
  • Short course or Saturday club
Enquire about this

Teams of learners

Innovation Challenge

A challenge across schools or regions where teams tackle real issues such as water, safety or access to learning.
  • Competition format with a final showcase
Enquire about this

Career readiness

Career readiness programmes

Grades 8–10

Future Careers in a Digital World

Exposure to tech and AI careers, guidance for Grade 9 subject choices, and talks from working professionals.
  • Workshop or career day
Enquire about this

Grades 11–12

CV, Interview and LinkedIn Starter

Using AI to draft CVs and practise interviews, while learning what employers actually look for.
  • Half-day or full-day workshop
Enquire about this

Ages 15–18

Job Shadowing and Mentorship

Learners are paired with professionals for a day or a term to see real work up close.
  • Placement or term-long mentorship
Enquire about this

How we deliver

Formats that fit your learners.

Holiday camps

3–5 days in the June/July and September school holidays.

School partnerships

A term-long programme run at your school, paid for by the school or a sponsor.

Saturday clubs

Ongoing weekly sessions that build a community of young learners.

Rural and township outreach

Low-data versions that run on phones and shared devices with free AI tools.

Educator add-on

A short session for teachers alongside every school programme.

Safety first

Safe, responsible and built for young people.

Parents and schools trust us with their learners, so safety is part of how every programme is designed.
  • Written consent from a parent or guardian for every learner
  • Free, age-appropriate tools, checked against their minimum-age rules
  • Learners’ personal information handled with care, in line with POPIA
  • Clear safeguarding guidelines for every session
  • Small groups led by experienced facilitators

For companies and sponsors

Sponsor a school. Change a future.

Partner with us through your CSI or skills development budget to bring AI and entrepreneurship programmes to learners in under-resourced schools, at no cost to them.
Talk to us about sponsoring

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Parents and guardians, schools and teachers, youth organisations, NGOs and companies. Booking enquiries should come from an adult on behalf of the learners.

No. Many sessions work on phones or shared devices, and we plan each programme around the devices your learners have.

It depends on the format, the number of learners and the location. Send an enquiry and we will share a quote. Sponsored programmes are free for learners.

At your school or venue, at a partner venue, or online for some programmes. We also run outreach in rural and township communities.

Yes. We adapt the content, length and level to your learners’ ages, grades and goals.

How booking works

01

Send an enquiry

Tell us about your learners, the programme you are interested in and your preferred format.

02

We plan it with you

We will contact you to agree the content, dates, venue and devices, and send a quote.

03

Confirm and get consent

Once confirmed, we share consent forms for parents and guardians before the programme starts.

Book a programme

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Enquiries should be sent by a parent, guardian, educator or organisation representative. Please do not include learners’ personal details in this form.

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