A youth-focused internship programme funded by Cookhouse Wind Farm is empowering young Eastern Cape professionals to gain practical experience in community development and social performance management.
The Social Performance Internship Programme, an 18-month initiative, provides participants with on-the-ground exposure to socio-economic development projects, stakeholder engagement, data reporting, and community liaison work — all key areas in South Africa’s growing renewable energy and development sectors.
Among the current participants is Kwakhanya Mnconywa from Bedford, who is using the opportunity to apply her academic background in Development Studies to real-world challenges. Holding an Honours degree in the field, she says the programme is deepening her understanding of what people-centred development looks like in practice.
“I’ve always believed that development must be people-centred,” Mnconywa said. “I applied for this role because I wanted to be part of work that doesn’t just build infrastructure but restores dignity.”
Before joining the programme, Mnconywa served in student leadership, where she championed fairness and inclusion — experience she says helped her understand how meaningful change happens both within systems and at the grassroots level.
“This experience taught me that real change happens when you work from both the inside and the ground up,” she said. “Even if the change is small, if it restores hope, it’s meaningful.”
In her current role, Mnconywa acts as a bridge between policy and lived experience, working to ensure that development initiatives translate into measurable, human impact.
The internship programme forms part of Cookhouse Wind Farm’s broader commitment to youth empowerment and sustainable local development in the Eastern Cape. Participants gain first-hand exposure to the renewable energy industry while supporting the monitoring and implementation of community projects in the surrounding areas.
According to the programme organisers, the goal is to develop skilled practitioners who understand both the technical and social dimensions of sustainable development — individuals who can drive inclusive progress and support the country’s just energy transition.
“You don’t need a title to start,” Mnconywa advises her peers. “Pay attention to people’s realities, challenge your own comfort, and never underestimate the power of small, consistent acts rooted in respect and intention.”
By focusing on mentorship, exposure, and applied learning, the Social Performance Internship Programme is helping to prepare a new generation of development professionals — young South Africans who are ready to combine purpose with practical impact.
