YearBeyondh as been selected for the HundrED Global Collection 2027, which recognises 100 of the world's most impactful and scalable education innovations. This year's collection was selected from more than 800 submissions across 100 countries.
The Collection was announced in Madrid at the HundrED Global Collection Awards Ceremony, held alongside the Global Education Forum. The 2027 theme, Human Flourishing, explores how education can create the conditions for people to access opportunities, grow with confidence, build meaningful relationships and thrive in supportive environments.
“YearBeyond is proud to be included in the 2027 HundrED collection along with Green Shoots, Care for Education and Columba Leadership Programme,” announced Jacqui Boulle, Chief Executive Officer of YearBeyond.
YearBeyond offers a dual beneficiary model supporting two generations at once. The programme places unemployed young people, known as YeBoneers, in schools, libraries and communities for a year of service. There, they facilitate reading, mathematics, coding and after-school programmes for learners, while gaining valuable work experience, developing their skills and building pathways into employment, further study or self-employment.
Since 2014, YearBeyond has placed more than 20 000 YeBoneers, who have supported 100 000 learners across 1 000 schools and sites.
"This recognition belongs to every YeBoneer who shows up for a learner each day. It proves that young people are not a problem to be solved. They are part of the solution, and the world is now taking note," said Jacqui Boulle.
Two generations, one model
YearBeyond's dual-beneficiary model speaks directly to this year's theme of Human Flourishing. Every placement creates an opportunity for both a young person and the learners they serve. In under-resourced schools and communities, learners receive additional support in reading, mathematics and coding. Alongside them, YeBoneers gain something many unemployed young people struggle to access: their first meaningful experience of work, supported by mentorship, professional development and exposure to new opportunities.
Both generations grow in the process. Learners develop confidence as readers and problem-solvers, while YeBoneers build the agency, resilience and sense of purpose that help them navigate their next steps.
Relationships are central to this growth. YeBoneers often come from the same communities as the learners they serve, offering children relatable role models who demonstrate what is possible. At the same time, YeBoneers become part of a wider network of peers, mentors and partners that extends beyond their year of service.
A model responding to South Africa's challenges
The recognition comes at a time when South Africa continues to grapple with two pressing challenges: youth unemployment and the learning crisis, particularly in foundational literacy and numeracy.
"National Youth Service offers an opportunity to respond to these challenges together. We need to recognise young people not simply as beneficiaries of development, but as active contributors to our society and economy. South Africa must invest in taking proven Youth Service models to scale, creating meaningful opportunities for young people to serve while building pathways into sustainable livelihoods," says Boulle.
This work is made possible through a wide network of partners across government, civil society, early childhood development centres, schools, libraries and the private sector.
“This award is not just an award to YearBeyond. It is an award to all our partners who make this work possible, our government partners in the Department of Education and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, the NGOs who implement the programme and most importantly the youth who show up and serve,” said Boulle. “Their collective commitment demonstrates what can be achieved when young people are given the opportunity to serve, learn and contribute.”