22 February 2023
South Africa has a record-high unemployment rate for job seekers aged 18 to 35. Over 32% of the working-age population is unemployed, totalling about 7.7 million individuals, of which 4.6 million are young. Suppose you are a young person actively searching for a job or an opportunity to learn new skills. In that case, you must always be on the lookout for learnerships or apprenticeships that may be offered by organisations that work with the
Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA).
SETA encourages skills development in several sectors and provides skills development and training to people employed or seeking employment in their sectors. The SETAs provide information on quality education, and training employers offer within their sectors. They can help you find funding options and avenues to gain new skills while working.
Below are a few organisations that work with young people in skills development, careers and business opportunities and mentorship.
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA)
NYDA provides grant finance through micro-finance grants for youth entrepreneurship and co-operative grants for greater youth participation in the co-operative sector. The program consists of both pre and post-approval assistance.
Young people whose business ideas qualify for the Grant Programme, depending on their individual needs, also receive NYDA’s non-financial support services that include:
- Mentorship
- Market linkages
- Voucher programmes
- Business management training programmes
- Entrepreneurship and youth co-operative development programmes
- Other necessary business support systems
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a non-profit social enterprise building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. They work with various partners committed to results that can operate at scale – including the government, the private sector, civil society, and over 1.5 million youth. Harambee is committed to assisting young people in landing jobs, mentorship, and curriculum vitae revamping, among other services.
YES is a business-led collaboration that seeks ground-breaking ways to reignite the economy and give youth a dignified first chance through innovation and technological best practices. The YES 12-month quality work experience equips unemployed youth with a toolkit to be a beacon of hope in economic transformation, skills and development.
SME South Africa is a one-stop-shop for business owners to access advice, business tools, and necessary resources. The enterprise provides expert guidance to help business owners source the right solutions and trim business financing options to take their businesses to the next level. SMEs are essential contributors to job creation and economic development, and SME South Africa assists citizens in achieving their business goals.
Additionally, business owners get access to trusted recommendations, features, and quotes for the following:
- Business Loans
- Business Insurance
- Accounting Software
- Payment Solutions
- E-Commerce Solutions
- Web Hosting
- Broadband
- Professional Services
- Business Consulting
- HR Outsourcing
- Marketing Services
- Web Design and Development
- Collection Agencies
- Accounting & Bookkeeping Services
Ref: www.careerhelp.org.za www.uasa.org.za