How a Cape Town internship became a pathway to work
In Masiphumelele, a crowded township on the Cape Peninsula, early work opportunities are limited.
High unemployment and a lack of structured after school activities mean many young people have little exposure to professional environments. MasiSports+ was created to help fill this gap by using sport to keep children connected to school and to open pathways to education, skills and work.
When Zintle joined MasiSports+ as an intern, she expected to spend her time behind a desk. Instead, the program exposed her to coaching, workshops and day to day responsibilities that helped her build confidence and practical skills.
She had completed office administration studies but was unsure which career path to follow. She liked teaching and she liked sport, but had not yet seen how these interests might come together. The internship quickly broadened her view.
When I got to MasiSports, I got exposed to a lot of things like coaching, not just doing admin only,” she says.
Working across different activities gave her new exposure and helped her work out what she enjoyed.
Collaboration became an important part of her experience. “Whenever they would appoint me to do a particular role, I would be like, okay, can you also add this person, and then we can work together to actually achieve the goal.” Learning to work in teams strengthened her sense of responsibility and supported her development.
MasiSports+ places strong emphasis on local role models, and the guidance of staff helped shape her ambitions. “Being around mentors really pushed me to want to become that kind of person too.” The chance to learn on the job was key. “The internship is definitely a learning experience where you can make your errors and get corrected by your supervisor, and then you actually get on your feet eventually when you go.” After completing the internship, Zintle accepted a part time role while continuing her studies. Balancing both has been challenging, but it has helped her manage her time and develop stronger professional habits.
The experience expanded her sense of what is possible. She now sees more ways to bring together sport, education and business in her future career. What has not changed is her desire to work with children and create environments where they feel supported and able to thrive.
The internship forms part of MasiSports+ broader efforts to strengthen youth employability in the community. Alongside its sports and life skills work, the organisation is developing partnerships that connect young people to opportunities in health, vocational training and social enterprises, helping build safer and more stable pathways in a community with few formal options.
MasiSports+ is strengthening opportunities for young people in South Africa’s Masiphumelele community by using sport as an entry point to education, life skills and safer pathways. The organisation builds and maintains sports facilities, employs local coaches, and partners with schools to create structured, engaging programs that keep children connected to learning.
As it grows, MasiSports+ is expanding its model to include mental wellbeing, health, employability and youth development, building local partnerships to offer services that extend beyond the sports field. The approach is rooted in community, providing young people with role models, support networks and exposure to new possibilities.
