The Young People at the Heart of the Fight Against Blood Cancer
Johannesburg, October 01, 2026 - At donor drives, universities, schools, workplaces and community events, our volunteers educate people, answer questions, address misconceptions and encourage eligible South Africans to register as potential stem cell donors.
For patients who need a stem cell transplant, finding a matching donor can offer hope for a second chance at life. A patient's best chance of finding a suitable donor is often among people with similar genetic ancestry, making a large and diverse donor registry essential. That means every conversation matters. Every registration matters. And every volunteer who helps us reach another person matters.
Young people reaching young people
People between the ages of 17 and 55 can register as potential stem cell donors if they meet the eligibility criteria. Within this group, recruiting younger donors remains an important priority for DKMS Africa. Many of our volunteers are young South Africans themselves: students, graduates and young people taking their first steps into the working world.
They understand the questions and hesitation that can prevent someone from registering. They know how to start conversations in ways that are relevant and relatable, helping another young person understand that a decision made today could become incredibly important to a patient in the future.
“When someone their own age explains what stem cell donation is and why it matters, it can make the idea of registering feel much more accessible,” Mbali says.
Volunteering with purpose
The impact of volunteering, however, does not move in only one direction. Young South Africans continue to look for opportunities to gain practical experience, develop skills and take their first steps into the workplace. Many of our volunteers come to DKMS Africa because they want to contribute to something bigger than themselves. Along the way, they gain exposure to the work behind the mission.
They develop communication and interpersonal skills, engage with different communities and learn about donor recruitment and registration. “Volunteering gives young people the opportunity to experience a professional environment while still having the space to learn and develop,” Mbali says. “They learn how to communicate effectively, work as part of a team, take responsibility, manage their time and interact with different people.”
Because saving lives requires far more than what the public sees at a donor drive. There are teams educating communities, managing donor information, coordinating logistics, communicating with donors and patients, building partnerships and helping potential donors remain informed and reachable.
For our volunteers, being part of that work provides a view of the mission from the ground up.
From volunteers to colleagues
For some, volunteering has also become the beginning of another journey. This year, several of our long-standing volunteers have successfully moved into permanent roles within DKMS Africa across different departments. Their progression speaks to the experience they have gained and to something equally valuable: an understanding of our mission. Charlene Pheiffer, Senior Human Resources Manager at DKMS Africa, says these progressions reflect the organisation’s broader approach to developing young talent.
For Charlene, the value of volunteering extends beyond what a young person contributes to the organisation. “At DKMS Africa, what you give as a volunteer enriches both the community and your own growth. It is not just about what you give, but also what you learn and discover about yourself.”
A generation looking for opportunity and creating hope
The story of our volunteers sits at the intersection of two challenges facing South Africa: the need to build a large, young and diverse pool of potential stem cell donors, and the reality facing young South Africans looking for opportunities to gain experience, develop skills and begin building their futures.
DKMS Africa cannot solve South Africa's unemployment challenge. But we can recognise what becomes possible when young people are given meaningful opportunities to participate. Through volunteering, young people can gain exposure, practical experience, transferable skills and a sense of purpose. At the same time, they are helping us address one of the greatest challenges facing patients who need a stem cell transplant: finding their matching donor.
It is young people reaching young people. It is communities becoming better informed about blood cancer, blood disorders and stem cell donation. It is a new generation of potential donors joining the registry.
Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission
To every volunteer who has helped set up a donor drive, spoken to a student, answered a difficult question, helped someone register or represented DKMS Africa in their community: you are part of every registration you help make possible.
And to the thousands of young South Africans who have already registered, you are part of this story too.
The next young person we reach could be that match.
If you are between 17 and 55 and meet the eligibility requirements, register as a potential stem cell donor today. Your decision could one day give hope to someone searching for their match.
Become a donor at https://www.dkms-africa.org/register-now.
Want to use your time and voice to help us reach even more people?
Become a Volunteer at https://www.dkms-africa.org/contact/volunteer-application-form
For more information, contact DKMS Africa on 0800 12 10 82.