Workshop looks at improving work opportunities for young people in South Africa

British Council South Africa was excited to host a national workshop on improving work opportunities for young people in South Africa at Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre on February 26 and 27.

“The purpose of the workshop is to encourage policy learning and promote employer-led skills development initiatives that increase work opportunities for young people,” said I-WORK programme manager Makhosazane Mngadi.

“We aim to officially present the key findings of the impact survey and the A21 guideline and share college partnership experience during their international partnerships in this project.”

The I-WORK project is focused on three result areas which integrate work at system, institution and individual levels. These include skills training centres, new policies and approaches implemented which enhance apprenticeships and work-related learning, and capturing and disseminating good practice across the Commonwealth.

“Now, more than ever, there is an urgency to improve apprenticeships and employer-led education to meet the needs of rapidly changing economies in South Africa and around the world,” said Mngadi.

“Whether learning from each other through building international links or from the past, we don’t need to provide all the answers ourselves but have strong belief that together we can make that change.”

Susana Galván, British Council South Africa country director, explained that the organisation is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities.

“Our main purpose is to build connections and friendships between people in the UK and people where we work. We are on the ground in six continents and over 100 countries, bringing international opportunity to life, every day,” explained Galván.