Much is being said about the critical rate of Youth Unemployment in South Africa, and the detrimental threat this poses to our economy and society. With approximately 58% not in jobs, education or training, it is one of the worst youth unemployment rates in the world. Furthermore, in times of economic crisis, young people are the first to lose jobs and the last to gain them back. Needless to say, that the Covid-pandemic has severely affected youth in South Africa, as whole industries suffer the impact and countless companies close down or retrench staff.
B-BBEE stipulates regulatory requirements and provides tools to bring about change and address some of the inequalities created through racial separation and discrimination. Amathuba Collective is designed to ensure maximum impact is achieved through mandatory BEE spent and ensures that true improvement is taking place as a result. Within our network we structure effective solutions and manage processes rigorously to ensure quality projects and smooth verification.
For the effective and impactful implementation of Youth Skills Development Programmes, we have collaborated with existing partners, built ecosystems and networks and designed projects that work.
The Youth in Agri Project is a collaborative initiative that supports small scale-farmers in various township communities, increasing their garden’s productivity and their business’ income.
We do this by connecting farmers to training opportunities, enterprise development funding, improved market access as well as eager apprentices in the form of YES youth.
Sponsored young people are working on the farms and in the businesses, gaining valuable work experience and discovering their appreciation for agriculture. They help the farmer with production planning and documentation, they manage social media accounts and do market research and of course they assist with the actual farm work - preparing the soil, planting, tending plants and harvesting produce.
They pack and distribute, sell and create awareness in the community. While they do this, they also learn a lot about their own eating habits and health implications. The youth become ambassadors for healthy food consumption and buying local, thus supporting township economy.
The lack of adequate digital / tech skills, and precious talent leaving to work overseas, demands an industry-specific, coordinated approach to the development of skill and local work opportunities.
Our Youth in Tech Project focuses on the industry relevant training in post school youth. The subsequent exposure to real work and active acquisition of innovative projects ensure the necessary experience to access gainful economic activity in the IT space.
The programme develops a talent pipeline, while simultaneously engaging a broad network of potential employers, clients and incubators for tech entrepreneurs.
The huge demand for 4th ID skills not only means employability for those who are skilled but also that work that is currently outsourced to overseas providers, can be kept local and the South African economy stimulated.
The Business Processes Outsourcing sector in South Africa has been growing steadily over the past decade or so. A large demand for skilled and committed talent exists, particularly in the Western Cape.
Amathuba Collective utilises young people’s work experience placements to transfer relevant skills, while candidates also participate in the substantial personal development content provided.
The experience gained focuses on supportive services towards youth in the programmes as well as the businesses and partners that host them. Such skills are critical to provide quality customer services that Contact centres require and such, the pipeline into gainful employment in the BPO sector is secured.
Amathuba's Youth in Business Services programme seeks to bridge the gap between education and the sector's expectations in terms of readily available talent.