Equipping youth with development opportunities
Brina Biggs, the senior manager at 1Life agreed, saying it’s about active participation and encouraging a view of the future, something that can be difficult when you are young and have your whole life ahead of you.
The potential of young people to be catalysts for change cannot be underestimated. Motivating and empowering the youth to transform their social impact ideas into actionable elements is integral to society’s development and driving sustainable economic growth.
World Youth Skills Day on July 15 is a reminder of the need to provide skills for the youth and open up access and opportunities as they transition into the workplace and their communities to drive a transformative future.
Organisations doing exactly this weighed in.
“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development places a strong emphasis on skills and jobs for young people, but solving a problem of this scale requires coordinated efforts from all sectors,” said Andra Nel, the brand and purpose manager at KFC.
“However, I believe that together we can encourage youth participation and development and transform youth skills for the future.
“As a people-first business, we are fortunate that our business gives us a unique understanding of and opportunity to address the needs of young people in South Africa and through our sporting, education, feeding network and access initiatives, we are proud to be able to provide a powerful vehicle that not only aims to equip youth to pursue their educational and professional aspirations but also provide equal opportunities and the necessary resources to level the playing field.”
One of the best ways to help youth and level the playing field is to give them access to educational support programmes aimed at filling the gaps and deficits resulting from the challenged public education system, according to Setlogane Manchidi, the head of CSI at Investec.
“We believe that the support of carefully considered educational initiatives enables our youth to be better positioned to gain entry into opportunities that can help facilitate the development of much-needed skills that leave them more empowered to change their lives for the better.
“Many beneficiaries have gone to qualify in areas they would not have otherwise qualified in had it not been for our efforts through initiatives such as Investec’s partnership with the Kutlwanong Centre for Maths, Science and Technology (Investec Promaths) that seeks to drive change that will see several disadvantaged youths produce improved matric results, access tertiary education and pursue critical qualifications.”
And it starts from the ground up. According to the 2023 Background Report for the 2030 Reading Panel, most children leave Grade One without knowing the alphabet, while 82% of Grade Four children cannot read for meaning.
“Reading and literacy is a critical pillar to a sound education,” said Esha Mansingh, an Imperial & Motus Trust Board member.
“This indicates a literacy crisis in the country, which is concerning if we consider the direct impact of the lack of the country’s ability to equip young people with the most basic but fundamental skills.
“What’s worse, this directly impacts the development of employable youth or youth who can create their own entrepreneurship.
“It is therefore critical that as corporate SA, we use our social purpose to develop such skills through comprehensive literacy intervention programmes that address grass-root level skills and provide the necessary learning environment and tools to promote healthy educational development.
“Currently, there is no national reading plan, budget, or accurate reporting in place at the government level, and so investing in libraries and resource centres that encourage reading development and improve literacy are crucial to changing this agenda locally – a role that we can fulfil to a large extent, as corporate SA,” added Mansingh.
And it’s not just about looking at this from a student perspective but rather addressing the full value chain that supports these children – the parents, communities and other stakeholders that influence the effectiveness and continuity of these skills.
Manchidi agreed.
“We recognise there needs to be a continuum of initiatives, starting from high school, moving to tertiary education and continuing through to young adult learning – a progressive pipeline, spanning three stages of learning and growth to create opportunities for young people to become active economic participants in society.
“In addition to equipping the youth, we recognise and appreciate the role that teachers, trainers and educators play in providing skills for youth is a critical one.
“Hence our commitment to the development of a new cohort of maths and science teachers through our teacher internship programme that ensures educators can provide high-impact learning experiences that support holistic growth for the workplace of the future.”
“Strengthening youth participation enables us to grow skilled labour and an entrepreneurial pool in the industry, which is very much needed,” said Yongie Ntene, the chief people and culture officer at Liberty Two Degrees.
“Take the property sector, for example, which requires a diversity of thinking, especially if we consider the changes and trends driving the sector and the valuable role communities play in building the spaces for generations to come.
“From providing study areas and access to Wi-Fi and electricity for students, from internship programmes to mentorships, and from supporting young entrepreneurs to providing platforms for the youth to freely express their voices – this is how we make a difference and drive active participation in the sector.”
Brina Biggs, the senior manager at 1Life agreed, saying it’s about active participation and encouraging a view of the future, something that can be difficult when you are young and have your whole life ahead of you.
“Skills development in financial independence and creating a mindset for the next generation is a critical skill set we need to impart to our youth today.
“It is the access and opportunities that open doors, it’s the skills that help them succeed, and it’s the commitment to financial freedom and the creation of generational wealth that protects their futures,” concluded Biggs.
