Youth must be part of solution
WHENEVER Stats SA releases its usual quarterly figures (as it did yesterday) relating to unemployment in South Africa there is no fuss, no headlines. No serious labour experts are interviewed for proper analysis. It is just another day in Mzansi. Very normal indeed. Some fat cat politicians will shed a few crocodile tears. But that’s it. The looting of our youth’s future will just continue.
The cruel reality, however, is that we are teetering on the brink of a national disaster when it comes specifically to youth unemployment. Our rate of unemployment is just under 35%. It is regarded as normal.
During the Great Depression of the 1920s the highest level of unemployment was measured at 24.9%. The world was economically on its knees with daily misery visited upon millions of people. It was regarded as abnormal. Mass poverty and even suicides were the order of the day. It was unprecedented and the worst period in human history.
But this is not the full story. The rate of under 35% in South Africa only refers to what is dubbed the official rate which excludes those who stopped looking for employment. When this group is included, the rate can increase to just under 50%. Imagine, half the population not being productive.
Among those categorised as youth the rate is hovering around 74%. Now let that sink in. Three depressions are exceeded by unemployed youth in South Africa every single day. How can this be normal? We are the worst in Africa and almost the entire world. And some people wonder why our youth escape to drugs? Really?
Whereas in other African countries facing similar challenges, youth can still have access to some land to be productive, in South Africa land robbery was so complete, destructive and violent, that our youth have access to nothing to fall back on.
To make matters a hundred times worse, there are age restrictions placed on who must have access to training programmes. When you reach age 35 you are denied opportunities to learn according to government policy. Tragic. Just imagine, in a country with our myriad of challenges a government has a policy to stop its citizens from accessing resources to empower themselves. This is pure evil. Whoever conceived this idea must rot in hell.
It is this tragic reality that has propelled many concerned citizens to act with urgency to intervene and forge innovative solutions to support our unemployed youth. We cannot wait on a corrupt government. Twenty eight years are way too long.
One of these innovative interventions is by YoungPeople@Work working on the Cape Flats. Understanding the horrible reality facing unemployed youth, this group of passionate and committed individuals, who got together in 2012 and followed in the proud traditions of their predecessor, the Resource Action Group formed in 1992 in Bishop Lavis, have forged a comprehensive intervention with tangible results to help turn around the lives of unemployed youth.
Our intervention is based on fundamental principles and global best practice, with our members having travelled the world.
Unemployed youth are regarded as assets not liabilities.
Youth should be active participants in the solution of their own challenges and not just passive recipients of predesigned programmes. Youth must be leaders today not tomorrow. Youth want nothing about them without them. They are the future and the present.
Our focus is on inclusion not exclusion; on support to access opportunities not just on the opportunity itself. Building networks of solidarity for permanent support and after care is an integral part of our programme design and implementation. The removal of obstacles to accessibility is paramount.
Life skills and computer literacy form the core of our programme intervention.
The former aimed at changing mind-sets in a rapidly changing world of work where adaptiveness is key.
The latter premised on a highly technological job market where computer literacy is indispensable, denied to those on the margins of society.
Through our referral, placement and tracking programme we also act as a connector to youth opportunities using various social media platforms. Our followers on our Facebook page exceed 75 000 with access to over 300 000 through partner pages.
A unique aspect of our intervention is the outreach to various Cape Flats communities. In partnership with community libraries, computer and life skills facilitators travel to various communities offering free computer literacy, life skills training and support to design, update and complete CVs.
Our outreach focus is based on research by the University of Johannesburg which found that a major obstacle for youth to access opportunities is the cost involved such as transport, as well as safety and security especially for females.
We also have a job placement, job shadowing, tracking and referral system where participants are either placed in existing employment or referred for further training and learnerships through a network of partners offering various hard and soft skills.
All those coming into contact with our organisation are placed in Whatsapp groups and receive an email account through which they are continuously updated about employment or further training opportunities. Participants are continuously tracked to check on their progress via Facebook, Whatsapp, email or telephonically.
On a shoe-string budget with minimal financial support and a very small core staff to limit overheads, the achievements have been many. Thousands of participants already benefited through the various programmes. Through our partnerships with companies such as I-College, Harambee, Dreamworker, Higher Faith, Mfesane, Reach Make It, Hair Aid Academy, Seven Plus, Anver’s Driving Academy, Petor Creatives, Keep Healing, the Department of Employment and Labour, community libraries and many more, hundreds of unemployed youth were placed or referred for employment and further training opportunities.
Lives were changed and participants potential rediscovered.
During the height of the Covid-19 crisis we also launched free online training via WhatsApp. Seven life skills and computer courses are available to anyone willing to learn in the comfort of their own homes. No transport fees, no exposure to crime and you can learn at your own pace revising the lessons as often as you want and sharing with friends and family. You can even get a certificate of participation. This year we will have reached over 20 000 participants from various parts of South Africa.
We also incubated various other projects meeting community needs and provide admin and management support such as the Food Relief Alliance of South Africa, Fundraising Mentoring Network, Music Academy for Rural Youth, Radical Car Wash and the Youth Business Network. The latter has been a roaring success, providing business support to youth managed businesses.
Some ex-participants wrote:
“You probably don’t remember me. I was one of your students a few years back. Today I am a registered professional nurse permanently employed at a first-class private hospital. Keep doing what you’re doing.” (Bathsheba Maarman)
“I just want to thank you. If it was not for my free computer training at YoungPeople@Work, I would not have found a job. In 2019 I started at Inuka as the registration consultant and I am still employed.” (Liezel Lennarts)
“Hi, Frank. You are now looking at the City of Cape Town new admin clerk. The contract was signed on 1 July 2022. It’s a contract but for me it’s a huge opportunity. I’m here not for the money but the skills, experience, my goal and to make YoungPeople@ Work proud for being one of their students. (Geraldine Diedericks)
“After I’d finished my six-week computer course I was busy emailing my CV left and right. January I received a call from the City of Cape Town for the Woman for Change programme. I’ve been placed at a school as a teacher’s and admin assistant. (Fezeka Yeko)
“Good day, Frank and team. I just want to thank you for all the wonderful information you have shared with us. I went for an interview yesterday and it was successful. The little pocket guide you gave us was very useful and the tips on how to make an excellent CV. The interviewers loved my CV and they were impressed with my answers; they even said they wouldn’t want to lose me. I will start training on Monday and have also taken the opportunity to volunteer at Tygerberg hospital. You have really motivated me and I now know I can do anything I put my mind to it feels very good now knowing what I want to be in future and what my goals are.” (Anita Abrahams)