By Tracey Catania
In a recent episode of the ORT Jet Business Show, host Avron Urison sat down with Amanda Blankfield-Koseff for a conversation that went far beyond inspiration, it unpacked a practical, scalable model for empowering both young people and entrepreneurs to create meaningful change in South Africa.
Amanda is the Founder and CEO of Empowervate Trust, the organisation behind the Youth Citizens Action Programme (YCAP), a national initiative. Through her work, she has helped design and scale structured programmes that equip individuals with the tools to identify real challenges and turn them into measurable, impactful outcomes.
At the heart of the conversation, she highlighted a simple but powerful gap: people are often encouraged to talk about the problems they see, yet are rarely equipped with the structure or tools to actually solve them. YCAP was created to bridge that gap, turning awareness into action through a clear, practical framework built around a 10-step toolkit that enables learners to move from ideas to implementation with purpose and direction.
Through this 10-step programme, learners identify problems, design solutions, and measure outcomes, gaining confidence, capability, and a deeper sense of purpose. Rather than remaining theoretical, the process mirrors real-world problem-solving in a structured and repeatable way. The journey begins with forming teams of 4–10 learners. From the outset, participants define roles and responsibilities, appointing a chairperson, secretary, researcher, and other functional roles, ensuring that each member contributes meaningfully to the team’s success. This early stage lays the foundation for collaboration, accountability, and shared ownership.
Once teams are established, learners enter the research phase, where they use tools such as SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) to understand their chosen issue in depth. They are encouraged to map their communities, analyse their environment, and gather evidence to ensure their understanding is grounded in reality rather than assumption. With research complete, learners identify a specific and focused topic to address. This step is critical, as it requires them to refine broad challenges into realistic, measurable problems that can be meaningfully tackled within the scope of their project.
From there, teams engage in structured brainstorming sessions, exploring possible solutions through open discussion and collaborative thinking. They evaluate ideas based on feasibility, impact, and relevance, allowing creativity to meet practical execution. Planning then becomes central to the process. Learners develop detailed action plans outlining timelines, responsibilities, required resources, and associated costs. They also create budgets and consider sustainability, introducing them to essential elements of financial planning and resource management.
With a clear plan in place, teams move into implementation. This is where ideas are translated into action within schools and communities—through initiatives addressing issues such as bullying, mental health, environmental challenges, food insecurity, and social inequality. However, what truly distinguishes the YCAP model is its emphasis on accountability and evidence-based impact. Learners are required to measure the outcomes of their work by collecting data, documenting progress, and evaluating whether their objectives have been achieved. This step reinforces critical thinking and ensures that effort is aligned with tangible results.
Communication is another key pillar. Learners present their projects, share their findings, and articulate their journey – developing confidence in public speaking, storytelling, and professional presentation. This not only strengthens their ability to communicate ideas but also prepares them for real-world environments where clarity and persuasion matter. The final step is reflection. Learners assess both the success of their projects and their own personal growth. They consider the skills they have developed, the challenges they have overcome, and the lessons learned along the way. This reflective practice builds self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and resilience—qualities essential for long-term success.
Throughout the programme, teachers play a vital role as facilitators rather than directors. They guide learners through each stage, ask probing questions, and encourage independent thinking, allowing learners to take ownership of both the process and the outcomes.
Importantly, Amanda also shared how this same structured approach is applied beyond schools through ORT Jet’s Business Bootcamp – Business Plan Processing. In this setting, entrepreneurs are guided through a similar structured methodology that enables them to develop complete, practical business plans. By the end of the process, each participant leaves with a clearly defined business plan, built step by step through guided facilitation, structured thinking, and applied learning.
A key element across both YCAP and the ORT Jet Business Bootcamp is the role of mentorship. Amanda emphasised the importance of guided support in unlocking potential and building confidence. Reflecting on her own journey, she shared how she was once a mentee within the ORT Jet ecosystem, receiving guidance and support in the early stages of her work. Today, she has come full circle – now contributing as a facilitator, mentor, and leader within the same environment that helped shape her path.
Across both programmes, the underlying philosophy remains consistent: structure unlocks potential, and mentorship accelerates growth. Whether working with young learners or business owners, the goal is to move individuals from ideas to implementation with clarity, confidence, and measurable outcomes.
During the interview with Avron, Amanda reinforced a belief that sits at the core of her work: people do not need permission to lead – they need the right framework and support to act. YCAP provides that framework. The Business Bootcamp applies it in an entrepreneurial context. And mentorship ensures that individuals are not navigating the journey alone.
In essence, what Amanda has helped build is more than a programme, it is a replicable model for transformation. One that turns passive participation into active contribution, replaces uncertainty with structure, and empowers individuals to not only imagine change, but to create it.
Listen to the podcast by clicking here