Teen wellbeing eThekwini: What does it take to support teens to thrive?

This September, the latest Zero Dropout Campaign Teen Wellbeing Learning Exchange and Exhibition was held at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) in Durban. The exchange brought together young people, practitioners and organisations to explore this question and to better understand the challenges shaping teens’experiences in South Africa. 

The exchange was also accompanied by Hanging by a Thread, an immersive public exhibition that combines photography, videography, audio, and storytelling to illuminate the lived experiences behind South Africa’s school dropout and teen wellbeing crisis. For the teens engaging with the exhibition, the issues were deeply familiar, and it created needed space for them to reflect on their own experiences.  

When asked to identify the challenges facing teens, they had many responses to share, speaking about coping with grief, confusion and the financial pressures that can affect their everyday lives and participation at school. Interestingly, it was much easier for the young people to identify the challenges they face than to articulate their dreams for teens in South Africa.  

Yet, among the aspirations that emerged was a desire for greater access to opportunities and skills training that could equip teens to navigate their futures and reach their potential.  

At the exchange, the practitioners and organisations from across the sector and province continued the conversation, asking what needs to change in the systems surrounding young people. Discussions highlighted the importance of building resilience through meaningful support, improving access to counselling and career guidance, strengthening coordination between organisations and government, and creating systems that are responsive to the different realities teens face.  

The morning was spent creating empathy for teens and thoughtfully mapping their experiences and needs, and one message stood out: teens are not one-size-fits-all.  

If their experiences are different, our approaches to supporting them cannot remain rigid or one-dimensional. Supporting teen wellbeing requires a shift in mindset – from doing things for young people to understanding their experiences, listening to their voices and working with them.  

The KZN Learning Exchange was a reminder that keeping young people connected to education requires us to look beyond the classroom. It requires stronger social support, collaboration and systems that recognise the whole young person.  

Join the conversation in Free State

If you work with teens, we invite you to join us at our upcoming Free State Learning Exchange and help shape a growing national dialogue on teen wellbeing. Together, we will explore what young people are experiencing, what is working, where the gaps remain, and how we can strengthen the systems of support around them.

Your experience, insights, and questions are an important part of this conversation, and we look forward to seeing you on 8 October.

If you have any questions, please contact Prea Naidoo at prea@zerodropout.co.za or 083 796 5187.