Metropolitan Collective Shapers to create youth entrepreneurship
According to Metropolitan CEO, Peter Tshiguhvo they are anchored on unity and bringing people to work together to overcome the challenges they have and they hope to achieve this through empowering young people.
With the alarming rate of youth unemployment in the country, the Metropolitan Collective Shapers encourages entrepreneurship as one of the solutions to change the narrative.
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The initiative recently held its media launch with a focus on youth owned businesses in the food and hospitality sector after a successful pilot launch they had at in 2021 in Polokwane.
The initiative which will be rolled out in partnership with BPO Skills Academy which is an accredited education services organisation that provides specialist skills development and job creation programmes for the youth nationally will see participants receive skills on the practical and business sides of the hospitality and food industry.
Metropolitan has also partnered with Value Ed, an organisation that offers developmental programmes online for future leaders and will be providing entrepreneurial skills training.
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According to Metropolitan CEO, Peter Tshiguhvo they are anchored on unity and bringing people to work together to overcome the challenges they have and they hope to achieve this through empowering young people.
“Looking at South Africa now, we are currently sitting on a lot of challenges that we have no control over and youth unemployment is one of them.
“The initiative is meant to equip the youth with skills and knowledge so that they are able to create their own income.
“If they do better than that they will be able to employ other people and that is the contribution we are making towards the country’s challenge of unemployment we are faced with,” Tshiguvho said.
He added government alone cannot be able to reduce the unemployment let-alone to eradicate it. This is the responsibility of the private sector as well as communities to make ensure that they come together to resolve some of these issues.
“We are aware that we will not resolve these issues alone but for us, it is very much encouraging to know that that even if we were to take one youth from the street and sustain them to do something about their life, that to us is an achievement,” added Tshiguvho.
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Metropolitan Head of Marketing, Phumla Mavundla said Polokwane was a proof point that there are young people out there who have the hunger and drive to grow their businesses, but only lack the relevant support and knowledge.
“The initiative is close to our hearts because it is not about throwing money at the youth unemployment problem in the hopes that it will fix itself, but rather about giving youth tools to create long-lasting and sustainable opportunities that can become solutions for themselves and their communities,” she said.
She added supporting youth entrepreneurship is a critical task that requires collective efforts because by supporting the youth, young people are given the opportunity to attain their business goals and minimize the number of youth who continue to experience challenging business environments and outcomes.
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Young people between the ages of 18 and 34, who are already active in the food and hospitality sector are encouraged to apply to be part of the programme.
Applicants must be permanent residents in South Africa, have a registered business in the food and hospitality sector that’s been in operation for no less than two years with the business being 51% or more black owned.
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