With the curtain coming down on Youth Day yesterday (16 June) youth unemployment remains a crisis in the country.
However, a local youth-based organisation is on a mission to address this by providing young people with skills to prepare them for the work environment.
Initiated in the Western Cape, YearBeyond is a national programme that provides unemployed youth between 18 and 25 years with meaningful work experience and a pathway to further studies or work, while encouraging a culture of community service.
YearBeyond is a Youth Service partnership between national government, the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), donors, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Wayde Groep, manager: Knowledge Management, Communications and Training at YearBeyond, said the organisation operates as a social franchise with over 50 partners, most of them NGOs, who provide the mentorship and support in communities for the youth, leveraging the YearBeyond Programme resources and curriculum.
Groep says the biggest challenge young people face is unemployment, limited access to education and networks, as well as the lack of guidance and support.
“YearBeyond tackles these challenges by offering youth a year of meaningful work experience, paired with personal and professional development, mentorship, and pathway support for when they graduate from the programme.
“Through this, young people gain valuable experience, build critical skills, and access opportunities that set them up for further study, work, or entrepreneurship.”
Groep says participants receive a curated training programme focused on building their professionalism, emotional intelligence and agency.
“They also receive pathway support to identify possible career options, compile a winning CV, prepare for an interview and pitch themselves to recruiters.
“This journey is supported by a mentor whom the youth see weekly. 70% plus of our alumni each year remain active in the economy as students, workers and entrepreneurs,” says Groep.
He explains that young people are trained to deliver a pre-designed programme, to track their work and are supported with observation visits, feedback and access to online learning materials to supplement the face-to-face training.
“Youth can also request help with our well-being eco-system, which includes access to trauma support, counselling, social workers, and other wellness professionals.”
Groep adds that the organisation is constantly adapting to the economic or social conditions affecting the youth. “Each year the programme adapts to be responsive to the context – for example, we have a focus on entrepreneurship given the economic climate and identity and inclusion issues as many young people grapple with this.”
He explains that businesses can get involved as follows:
. Create opportunities for youth to work in their organisations and partner with YearBeyond for a pipeline of talent.
. Create opportunities for job shadowing to expose youth to the careers in their industry.
. Support youth to prepare for the market by volunteering time to do mock interviews.
. Sign up for one of our Opportunity Expos.
. Sponsor YearBeyond via the umbrella NGO YeBo Institute.
