Are you young and unemployed?

‘Chance for young people to interact with professionals in various fields’

THE Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation will host a free Youth Career Summit tomorrow and on Friday in collaboration with the Artscape Theatre, as part of addressing the high youth unemployment rate.

Featuring workshops and panel discussions, the summit will focus on equipping unemployed youth in the surrounding areas of Cape Town with information and skills for the future.

Programme manager Razaan Bailey said: “We aim to do this by providing the platform for these young people to interact with professionals in various fields, who are going to share their journey and opportunities.

“Workshops will provide these young people with skills to assist them.”

While the foundation also runs a Youth At Work programme, Bailey said this month they aimed to give more young people employment opportunities.

“We want unemployed youth to come and learn how to put a CV together and prepare for a job interview.

“If they have a business idea, they will learn how to take that idea and pitch it to someone.

“We also invite experts to talk about different careers, how to get in, what the job actually involves and debunk some myths.

“It’s also an opportunity to build a social network and where they can ask to be mentored in a profession.”

Bailey said young people entering the job market were also competing with people who already have experience, which was another challenge.

“Most of the opportunities available are for people with experience, while they are also competing with experienced people who are losing jobs.

“The longer you stay out of work, the harder it is to get work.

“We want to bridge that gap; the school-to-work transition is crucial for the youth.”

The summit takes place from 10am to 3pm.

Meanwhile, the Shoprite Group is set to reach its target of empowering more than 12 000 youths (aged 18-29) to enter the retail sector or start their own business.

The Shoprite Group’s Retail Readiness programme was launched in February 2016.

Following the successful completion of an eight-week training programme, participants receive an NQF-level 3 qualification.

Since the programme’s inception 8 688 young people have been employed at Shoprite or Checkers stores.

The current training block ends next Friday.

The next training session is expected to get under way next month and applications are still open.

“South Africans with matric can apply for the programme at our recruitment centres in Cape Town, Joburg and Pretoria,” said Moga Pillay, who is the group’s spokesperson for skills development.

“This programme is a direct challenge to the crippling effects of youth unemployment. More than half of young South Africans are unemployed.”

Participants in the programme are provided with basic business principles to understand the financial, legal and business requirements of setting up and running a small to medium enterprise in conjunction with a large retailer.

To apply for this opportunity, dial *120*446# and follow the prompts (network rates apply) or visit www.shoprite. jobs

At present, this training opportunity is only available in Gauteng and the Western Cape.