Publication: Acumen
Author: Mpho Majoro
Photograph: Unspecified
As South Africa looks to grow its economy to enable greater inclusion and social development, young people are front and centre in tackling growing inequality, poverty, and unemployment.
As of the first quarter of 2024, unemployment among people between the ages of 15 and 34 stood at 45.4%, according to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). Furthermore, the QLFS highlights education, social factors, and lack of work experience as elements that can limit one’s prospects in the search for seemingly elusive jobs.
“Limited education, as well as social and economic disadvantages, have been identified as the primary factors driving elevated rates of unemployment and the significant proportion of youth not in employment, education or training in South Africa,” the QLFS reads.
The statistics highlight the mammoth task ahead in ensuring that more young people are included in the economy, and most importantly, that they are equipped with the necessary skills to make it in an ever-changing world of work. The glimmer of hope is that the very same stats also indicate that young people who have been exposed to the world of work and have acquired some level of experience (12.3%), are more likely to transition from unemployment or inactivity into employment, surpassing even their adult counterparts with experience (7.4%).
What this illustrates is that youth-focused programmes that offer experiential learning, internships, and other forms of exposure to the workplace have far-reaching implications in addressing youth unemployment.
During those programmes, young people can gain the skills that will hold them in good stead in the future. They develop the competence and confidence to employ their skills and experience for the good of their employers, community, and country. The connections that come with being exposed to listed companies, multinationals, and government entities during periods of experiential learning, as well as the relationships and much-needed support structures they gain access to are simply priceless. For a young person who does not have the exposure, such an opportunity can be life-changing, not only for their immediate family, but for future generations as well.
In response to the demand for more youth training and empowerment, GIBS is also actively involved in community building. This demonstrates GIBS’ position as a leader in serving, inspiring, and advancing world-class business practices across the continent and beyond. The school also supports and runs its own youth-centred programmes that consider the diversity of youth empowerment and the requirements of the different sectors of society, who have varied needs.
Spirit of Youth
Through the Spirit of Youth programme, GIBS teaches leadership skills to Grade 11 learners who have shown academic excellence and leadership potential.
Once chosen, they are taken through a series of leadership capabilities such as understanding personal values, building political awareness, developing tools for self-management, and enhancing listening skills. Furthermore, they are exposed to the power of storytelling in communicating and shaping perceptions, as well as the importance of financial literacy. Over the six-month period, these gifted young people from various schools and socio-economic backgrounds are equipped with leadership tools and engage in activities that grow their leadership competences.
“The aim is to bring together a class as diverse as South Africa itself, to explore the rich history of our country and the African continent, inspiring learners to appreciate their heritage and make positive contributions to their communities. Through critical reflection, storytelling, and creative activities, learners gain a deeper understanding of Africa’s historical resilience and that they play a fundamental role in influencing its future,” says Spirit of Youth programme manager Nompumelelo Shabangu.
Created in 2005, under the leadership of former South African Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus, Spirit of Youth has opened doors to more than 3 500 young people. Schools are the central agents of this project as they get to nominate three motivated and aspiring young leaders from their ranks to be part of the year-long programme, which takes place over two Saturdays per month during its course.
Since 2005, the Spirit of Youth programme has focused on creating safe and inclusive spaces of learning and development for future leaders of business and society to be better prepared for the road ahead. During the programme they get to critically engage with contextual issues in South Africa, develop their sense of agency, and define their vision for the country. At the end of it all, the young leaders are primed to have a significant impact on their immediate peers and society at large. Since the premise of this programme is to pave the way forward for generations of new leaders, the delegates’ fees are subsidised through donor funds.
For the past 20 years, several thousand young people have graduated from the programme, while hundreds of others have benefitted from the experience of being volunteer facilitators. Through the use of innovation, the programme provides for peer-to-peer learning on important socio-economic and political issues. The learners are challenged through activities that enable them to exchange ideas with both policymakers and peers on the important issues of the day.
“Our alumni have a strong sense of self, agency, and advocacy and return to create initiatives that address some challenges they face within the school, home, and broader community. Several of our alumni come back and facilitate on the programme, which speaks to an increased sense of responsibility and active citizenry,” Shabangu notes.
Teach them how to fish
The old proverb of “teach a man how to fish and he will eat every day” comes to mind when describing the work of Youth Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development, also known as YLED. For the past 20 years, the Johannesburg-based non-profit organisation has been running programmes that teach young people life skills such as soft skills, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills. The aim is to empower them to be self-sustaining, driven and brave enough to push boundaries in all spheres of life. In the same way that the Spirit of Youth catches them while they are young, YLED also targets school-going pupils in Grade 11.
The programme runs over 32 Saturdays, where the selected pupils take part in theoretical and practical challenges that are designed to stimulate them and enable them to be proactive, innovative leaders. The programme includes real-world mini enterprises, provides access to industry experts, and fosters teamwork.
The programme recruits pupils from partner schools in the greater Johannesburg area.
Founded by Dr Steven Zwane, a GIBS faculty member who teaches entrepreneurship, operations, and strategy, the team at YLED and its partners and volunteers work hard to instil confidence in young people, many of whom come from underprivileged communities where opportunities can be limited.
“Beyond tangible achievements, a major takeaway is the lasting community we’ve built among participants, mentors, and alumni. The programme has inspired participants to pursue their dreams, contribute to social change, and mentor others”, managing director at YLED Thando Zwane explains.
Many of the programme’s alumni have gone on to attain graduate qualifications, start successful businesses and take on leadership roles in their careers. As part of the programme the pupils complete mini-enterprise projects where they get to manage their own small businesses, generating profits and learning valuable lessons about teamwork, budgeting, and customer service among others.
YLED’s partnership with GIBS was solidified in November 2024, with an extension of their joint commitment to empowering young South Africans. The impact of the partnership goes beyond just a seat in Africa’s leading business school, to providing the young people with great role models, a mindset shift about lifelong learning, as well as access to the best facilitators GIBS has to offer.
A foot in the door
As part of its commitment to the national youth empowerment programme, GIBS has also partnered with the Youth Employment Service (YES) programme. The YES programme is a corporate sector-led initiative designed to offer unemployed or inactive young people the opportunity to gain experience in the corporate sector over a 12-month period, thus improving their prospects for future employability.
For the companies concerned, taking part in the YES programme makes it possible for entities to improve their B-BBEE scorecards by at least one or two levels – a win-win in any language. GIBS’ commitment was cemented with a move up to B-BBEE Level 1 contributor status in 2022 – the highest rating on the broad-based black economic empowerment scale.
The greater victory, however, is that of the young people who take part in the one-year programme, where they are planted in workspaces that provide many opportunities for them to showcase their abilities, discover their strengths and grow in confidence.
The programme is the proverbial foot in the door that many need to end cycles of poverty and promote social mobility. After taking part in the programmes, candidates leave with a CV, a credible reference letter and access to a digital network of employers and opportunities. Best of all, they are armed with important life lessons that will stay with them whether they choose to become entrepreneurs or find work elsewhere. Sometimes all that people need is a chance to prove themselves, and the YES programme provides just that.
When young people are left behind, the potential of South African society is stifled. Young people have made great strides in the sporting field and in the entertainment industry with the evolution of the amapiano genre and other creative economies. There is room for growth and development in other sectors of society and partnerships between government, civil society and academic institutions have shown to be effective in advancing society. Innovative and tried-and-tested solutions that take into consideration the changing world, its technologies and perspectives are needed to ensure South Africa remains competitive.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Statistics show that young people who gain some form of work experience improve their chances of future employability.
- Programmes such as Spirit of Youth elevate young leaders to grow in confidence and be bolder.
- Taking part in internship programmes provides access to supportive employment networks.
Amendment to the Gazette