South Africa is home to young people, many of whom face significant hardship. The nation's complex socio-historical context, coupled with ongoing structural challenges such as unemployment, educational disparities, gender inequality, poverty, and limited access to basic infrastructure, has profoundly impacted the lives and wellbeing of its youth. These adversities not only shape their day-to-day experiences but also influence their outlook on the future and their ability to thrive within their communities. Despite democratic reforms, South Africa struggles with three major challenges: poverty, inequality and unemployment relating to SDG's goals: 1 no poverty; 8 decent work and economic growth; 10 reduced inequalities.


A growing body of indigenous knowledge highlights the role of the African philosophy of Ubuntu—the collective ethos that emphasizes relational well-being as fundamental to human flourishing. The core values of Ubuntu (humanness, caring, sharing, respect and compassion) reflect the collectivist approach to life, engendering wellbeing in each person as members of community. Furthermore, global research emphasizes the role of Hope and Social Emotional Learning skills as fundamental for developing future readiness and wellbeing for youth.


This presentation reviews qualitative studies on multicultural wellbeing among South Africans in educational settings, highlighting key factors identified by youth and adults who work with youth. Three key factors which emerged from several studies are: interpersonal relationships, self-awareness and social awareness. Enhancing wellbeing in South African youth requires holistic multidimensional strategies which are contextually relevant, including psychosocial support structures based on culturally informed conceptions of wellbeing.