Umthombo Youth Development Foundation

What do we do

The Umthombo Youth Development Foundation seeks to address the shortages of healthcare staff at rural hospitals. This is achieved through the investment in rural youth who are willing on graduation to work at their local rural hospital.

Research has shown that rural origin health science graduates are more likely to live and work in rural areas than their urban counterparts. Based on this evidence, and the belief that despite the poor social and economic circumstances of the youth in rural areas, that if given the opportunity and necessary support, rural youth can succeed in becoming health care professionals and will return to serve their communities when qualified.

This work also contributes to reducing the high levels of youth neither in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), which is particularly prevalent in rural areas.

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