WHAT IS KITSO GAP YEAR?
KITSO is a Free Gap Year Program that helps South African matriculants upgrade their marks, study further, find their first jobs and start their own businesses.
KITSO runs a FREE structured gap year program built specifically for South African matriculants from the class of 2020 to the class of 2026 .Many matriculants are motivated to study further and actively seek out opportunities a year or two after passing their matric. They will continue applying for tertiary education opportunities and in some cases even attempt looking for jobs. But eventually reality starts setting in.
NSFAS funding is almost guaranteed for many but there are some that will still fall through, we have come across many matriculants who still do not apply even though they think they want to study further. Some are discouraged by the fact that they do not have incredible Marks even though that is not what is needed to study further, opportunities are available regardless of what you achieved in matric.
We have seen When there's no one there to guide the next application and they apply for courses they do not qualify for. And slowly, that hope many matriculants started with fades, and they give up. In a country with an unemployment of 43.8% the longer you remain unemployed and out of school the harder it will be to break into the world of work. Kitso was started to make sure that doesn't happen.
We turn the gap year from a "wasted year" of waiting around in frustration into a year where you build real skills, gain real work experience, improve your marks, and come out the other side with a clear plan, whether that's university, TVET college, other training institutions, entrepreneurship, or straight into the working world.
We'll know we've done our job when you're not just "getting by" a year later, sitting in the same position you were in but standing on your own two feet, economically independent, and working to build the life you want to live.
Why matriculants should care
What you do in the year right after matric shapes a lot of what comes after it. Most matriculants never get access to real skills training, real work exposure, or real guidance they just have to "figure it out." Kitso is completely free, and gives you:
This isn't a program to keep you busy for a year. It's a program built to get you closer to standing on your own two feet.
Who can apply
KITSO is open to matriculants from the class of 2020 through the class of 2026. If you matriculated any time in that range and you're still figuring out your next step, this program is for you but Spaces are limited.