In a significant response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ABSA demonstrated corporate social responsibility through its partnership with the Youth Employment Service (YES) in the #Masks4All initiative. This collaboration exemplified effective private sector engagement in addressing both public health and economic challenges.
YES, founded in 2018 as a joint initiative between business, government, and labor, focuses on creating work opportunities for South African youth aged 18-35. During the pandemic, YES rapidly adapted its model to address urgent social needs while maintaining its core mission of youth employment.
The ABSA-supported #Masks4All initiative achieved multiple strategic objectives:
- The project sustained local textile manufacturing during economic uncertainty, providing vital support to small businesses in the sector.
- It created employment for 113 individuals at a time when job losses were widespread across South Africa.
- The initiative successfully produced and distributed 30,000 masks to communities, contributing to public health measures during critical phases of the pandemic.
This partnership showcased YES's ability to pivot its operations to meet emerging social needs while creating meaningful work opportunities. ABSA's involvement demonstrated how financial institutions could leverage existing social impact partnerships to respond effectively to crisis situations.
The initiative's impact extended beyond immediate employment creation. It strengthened local manufacturing capabilities, supported small business sustainability, and contributed to community health protection. The project exemplified how corporate-NGO partnerships could deliver multilayered social impact, combining job creation with urgent public health needs.
YES continues to work with major corporations like ABSA to create sustainable employment opportunities for South African youth. The organisation's model of business-led collaboration has proven effective in both regular operations and crisis response situations, demonstrating the value of established social impact partnerships in addressing emerging societal challenges.
Amendment to the Gazette