Yes4youth: Private-public partnerships to grow youth career opportunities
Bridgestone Southern Africa has placed 42 Yes4youth graduates in permanent positions in the company
Investing in the youth not only empowers young people; it uplifts families and communities and benefits South Africa at large. But, says Bridgestone Southern Africa’s Head of Talent, Botaki Hlalele, this is no mean feat, and cannot be achieved by government alone, or by corporates working in isolation.
This is why Bridgestone Southern Africa has partnered with the Yes4youth programme to help young people grow their careers and shape their futures. “There will be no magic wand with the government working alone. We have a responsibility to shape the kind of future that we envisage, build capability and give people their self-worth. That future is not created by being bystanders,” Hlalele says.
Companies have the means and opportunity that the public institutions may not have, and vice versa. “While the government creates a conducive environment, organisations are able to accommodate and expose youth to best learning experiences; Yes4youth is a case in point.”
Yes4youth is a business-led collaboration that partners with government and labour to tackle the country’s unemployment challenge. Bridgestone Southern Africa’s graduate development programme has been partnering with the Yes4youth programme since 2020; 151 graduates and diplomates have already received a comprehensive internship to ready them for the world of work. But Bridgestone’s proudest boast, says Hlalele, is that it has managed to place 42 of them in permanent positions within the company.
The programme develops youth in the skills that are at the core of the company’s future sustainability, such as engineering, finance, sales and IT. “This helps with developing a pipeline from which the company can draw when vacancies arise,” Hlalele explains. “A company like Bridgestone benefits by also building youth who understand the culture of the organisation, and not just the skills required.”
In doing so, he says, everyone wins: “The economy wins because one youth taken off the streets is a great plus for the country, and the skills we bring onboard reflect what the country requires from a critical skills perspective. We are committed to supporting the government’s drive to reduce unemployment by providing the work experience the youth need to stand out in the competitive jobs market.” While good for the country, this also has an immense impact on the individuals within
the programme: “The future of this country is the youth, and we cannot ignore such a reality. We have to invest in our youth now if we are to make a difference tomorrow. I have noticed the meaning that these opportunities have for the youth and their loved ones. As an organisation, we do not only have a responsibility to the youth — directly and indirectly we impact families in the most positive way, by affording youth the opportunity to make a difference in their lives.”
Success stories
Ayanda Edwin Letsapa is an engineering graduate from Sebokeng and was appointed as a Maintenance Planner in September 2021. He has since been promoted to Shift Engineer. He says since landing the job at Bridgestone, he has been given the opportunity to better himself, improving on his technical and communication skills. “Above all, I am gaining more confidence in the engineering and operations field; I am more driven, and have developed a positive attitude.”
Limpopo-born Risuna Mabasa is a Logistics and Supply Chain graduate and is now a planning
analyst at
Bridgestone’s Brits manufacturing facility. “I have learned that, just like in any organisation, you need to have good relations with people,” she says.
Ephodia Mokwala, also from Limpopo, is building a career in HR. Since gaining permanent employment, she says she has been given more autonomy and can initiate projects and processes. As a result, she has become better at working on her own and is developing her business acumen.
These young workers acknowledge that the Yes4youth programme opened doors for them. Mokwala’s advice to other interns is to cultivate a professional approach and perform each task well: “Always seek feedback so you know what to improve on.” Mabasa agrees: “Let your work speak for itself.”
Letsapa says interns should concentrate on learning how to perform the basic tasks in the departments where they are placed, as this lays the foundation for further advancement. It also means the intern is in a position to engage with his or her superiors on a professional level. “If you are seen to add value to the business, you are much more likely to be offered a permanent position. Always remember: your superiors are not responsible for your career — you
are!”