President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomes 3 000 young people to the Youth Employment Service

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Nedbank welcomed over 3 000 young people to the Youth Employment Service (Yes) programme at Nedbank’s head offices in Sandton.

The programme was launched in March last year as a means of creating work experience opportunities for young people who have been unable to find jobs. The programme is a collaboration with big businesses who can provide work experience opportunities. Ramaphosa said that he is delighted that within six months of the project being kicked off, 18 000 people have been given an opportunity to gain work experience.

Nedbank inducted 3 315 young people on 2 May, one of the biggest contributions to the Yes programme so far. Michael Brown, the chief executive of the bank, said, “It can’t simply be business as usual. If we want positive and meaningful change in our country we need to be change agents, everybody needs to do their part.”

Tashmia Ismail, the CEO of Yes, said that the over 200 businesses who have gotten involved with the programme have gone over and above their everyday business and projects that they invest in.

“This is an investment in the future that sees beyond quarterly profits… you have made an investment in the future that works, both figuratively and literally.”

Some of the participants in the programme shared some of the challenges they face with the president. Ramaphosa said that these conversations make it evident that many more projects like this are necessary to address youth unemployment. “This is an initiative that in very practical ways, demonstrates the wonderful relationship between government and business as it evolves over the years… we have gone beyond talking over many months to really practical things.”

Mosesi Mosesi is one of the young people who has already begun to benefit from the Yes programme. He studied to be an engineer but struggled to find a job for nearly four years. Through the programme he has become an urban farmer, focusing on hydroponics and aquaponics.

Ramaphosa concluded, “I’m delighted that more and more we are gathering young people who are determined to work hard are ambitious, who are looking forward and want to succeed…All of the young people here today are pathfinders and we applaud you for that.”

Details: Youth Employment Service www.yes4youth.co.za

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