Work experience for unemployed youth

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, through its Youth and Afterschool Project office, is calling on unemployed youth to take up the opportunity to apply for a year of work, rendering service to their communities.

Unemployed youth who have a matric certificate and are between the ages of 18 and 25, may apply to become YeBoneers – youth who get the opportunity to be part of the YearBeyond programme. These youth will follow in the footsteps of the 3 009 youth who enrolled in, and graduated from, the programme in 2022.

Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport Minister Anroux Marais said in a media statement on 12 January that the programme is part of the national youth service initiative. "It provides young people with the opportunity to develop a number of key competencies needed in the workplace, with the support of a mentor. While developing these skills, they build their networks and provide much-needed support to learners."

Over the past few years, the department has seen 75% of YeBoneers progress into further work or studies at the end of their experience.

"Our department wants to support our youth by offering these opportunities for them to get solid work experience. We encourage them to apply for this exciting programme as a first step towards becoming economically active and successful adults."

Currently, applications for the Planet Youth (George area only), Academic Support programme, and Scouting in Schools are open, and more streams were scheduled to open from 12 January.

For more information or the link to apply, go to www.yearbeyond.org. Youth applying will be required to create an SA Youth Mobi profile, or update their existing profile.

The first applications close in middle January with the bulk closing in midFebruary.