YES initiative gains traction through Volvo Trucks South Africa

President Cyril Ramaphosa is addressing the Volvo Trucks South Africa youth employment initiative at the company’s assembly plant in Durban, KwaZulu, today.

The initiative is in line with the Youth Employment Service (YES) championed by Ramaphosa. The YES initiative aims to see more than one million young South Africans being offered paid work experience over the next three years.

The #YES initiative takes the form of a partnership between government, business, labour and civil society and has three channels through which employment opportunities can occur: pic.twitter.com/zF2JgQTu1h

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

According to the South African government news agency, Volvo Trucks South Africa plans to invest over R20 million during 2018 on apprenticeship training, automotive industry learnerships, disabled person learnerships, as well as internships. It has already invested more than R86 million since 2015, the agency said.

WATCH: Siphesihle Ziqubu (25) from Elangeni TVET College on the Volvo Group Southern Africa’s Youth Employment Initiative #YES pic.twitter.com/YNJA0puEqx

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

WATCH: Ayanda Lembede (24) from Kwadabeka TVET college on the #YES initiative pic.twitter.com/NSogT2pCya

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

WATCH: Nosihle Makamu (23) from KwaMashu TVET college in the #YES . pic.twitter.com/xnXko6gdIM

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

Volvo Trucks South Africa has indicated that it will invest R7.8 million in the Star for Life programme – a non-profit organisation that provides young South Africans essential life skills, sports training and health education.

WATCH: Star for Life schools choir serenading guests at Volvo Group Southern Africa’s Youth Employment Initiative ahead of the President @CyrilRamaphosa address #YES pic.twitter.com/2rB2obSicD

Read more

Ramaphosa warns of action if spaza shops don’t register [VIDEO]

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

@VolvoTrucksSA commitment to the communities #YES pic.twitter.com/3iO5EFlari

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

@VolvoTrucksSA also aims to establish a driver training academy #YES pic.twitter.com/G2sF07TDso

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

#YES Christensson says During the course of the year, they will also establish a specialized Driver Training Academy to address the shortage of skilled drivers in the region, at an investment of R1.4 million pic.twitter.com/YziYhTeb1q

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

President of Volvo Group  Southern Africa Torbjörn Christensson said the company supports government’s initiative to focus on youth development as is envisioned in initiatives such as the proposed Youth Employment Service

“We ready and willing to take hands with government to identify and create more opportunities for our youth, to start rebuilding the social fabric and economic transformation of the South African labour market,” Christensson said.

WATCH: KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Sihle Zikalala takes the podium #YES pic.twitter.com/mfqPqp0AxN

— @SAgovnews (@SAgovnews) May 19, 2018

For more news your way, follow The Citizen on Facebook and Twitter.