OURS is “empowering young people across Africa by providing innovative, hands-on career exploration tools that bridge the gap between education and the world of work,” says CareerKit founder Isaac Mongali.
Mongali, from Durban- Musrage, was the selected by judges as the winner in the Top Education & Literature Brand category, at the 2025- 4th Annual Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) held at the swanky Luxx Venue, Sandton, on a chilly Saturday evening.
CareerKit empowers learners, students, and professionals discover, explore, and prepare for careers that match their skills and interests with immersive career experiences, interactive tools, and expert guidance.
CareerKit is an online platform that offers career development tools and resources.
It helps young and adult to explore, experiment, and excel in ‘your’ career journey, through its RAISEC board game.
The personality traits are:
- Realistic (R): Practical and hands-on
- Investigative (I): Analytical, curious, and research.
- Artistic (A): Creative, and imaginative
- Social (S): Sociable and good communication skills.
- Enterprising (E): Persuasive and enjoys influencing.
Conventional (C): Organized and detail-oriented
Says the excited Mongali, who was accompanied by his business partner and the financier of the programme, its all Glory to the All Mighty who has given us these tools to help others.
“We’re proud to have been recognised for our work and at the end of the day, we are only the servants of God to help, aid and provide solutions to various communities and schools on educational programmes,” says Mongali, who completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and pursued a Data Science degree in Information Technology from iStudent Academy in 2020.
To date, CareerKit has reached over 15,000 learners across South Africa, providing them with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed career choices.
From urban centers to rural communities, ‘our tools have been used in classrooms, community centers, and homes, empowering youth with the skills and confidence to pursue their dreams.
By offering interactive career exploration and guidance, we are actively reducing the number of young people making uninformed decisions that often lead to missed opportunities’, says the fully-bearded Mongali, holding aloft the bronze award.
For more information visit: www.careerkit.co.za
Also honoured is the shy but very active Lesego Gumede, from Sneaker Cleanic in Mabopane, Pretoria.
He was rewarded for his sterling work in the Top Services Brand category, despite living with hearing impairment, which he grew up with from early age.
But was fortunate enough to receive help from a private hospital that did not charge him for the insertion of Hearing Aid, he recollected.
“The love of clean sneakers brushed off on me, whilst working for a shop that sells shoes, and from then on, the love of spotty clean shoes grew,” says Gumede, who has shops in both Mabopane and Soshanguve Malls and has 14 staff complement.
Lesego resigned from his daily job and used the money he had saved to purchase material and from then on, there was no looking back, that resulted in Sneaker Cleanic initiation in May 2021.
“My message to the youth of today, wait for no-one. Government can’t do it alone. Yes, they have to create means and platforms for jobs opportunities but at the same time, they will only back you when you dust yourself and think out of the box,” says Gumede, who was accompanied by his partner, who is an academic.
“I’m a disability because I’m experiencing a hearing impairment, but I do not want to use that as an excuse and fold arms, and depend on a grant. It can’t be and my message is simple: youngman/lady lets get working, the future is in your hands”.
A (29) graduate from Tshwane University of Tshwane (TUT) pursued Events Management studies during Covid-19, but unfortunately, the course was discontinued.
Going forward he tells:” I wanna expand my business and create presence in other areas in the country; and of course look for investors that will help me a great deal to create more jobs and economical sustenance in our locations,” quipped Lesego, who also said they have established a customer-line, to help ‘our clients’ with any concerns they may have and “they’re many” he chuckles.
For more information visit: www.sneakercleanic.co.za
The organiser of the awards Pat Mahlangu, sent his message to the winners and said he looks forward to another successful 2026.
Image SLM (CareerKit founder Isaac Mongali, left, and business financier, recorded during interviews at the 2025 – 4th Annual Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBAs) held at the swanky Luxx Venue, Sandton, on a chilly Saturday evening).
