Bridging Youth Unemployment gaps
The SakhiSizwe team spoke with Ayanda Nvandaba, the 10X Managing partner at Christel House. She discussed their newest employment initiative called ‘Youth Bridge’. Youth Bridge supports unemployed youth (15 to 35-years of age) and helps them bridge the gap between their undiscovered ambitions and abilities and the career opportunities that await them. It draws on lessons learnt from Christel House SA’s successful efforts over the past 22 years to support vulnerable youth to secure gainful employment.
Key to the programme’s success is addressing the barriers to stable, successful employment through a character-based, career-focused readiness programme and then continuing to support candidates through their first periods of placement. Given the backdrop of South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate, the school engaged with experts on how to create sustainable and viable solutions around their new Youth Bridge Initiative.
She shared with us the research and design that went into asset mapping and addressing the specific needs of the community as well as tips and directions for educators and communities to best empower their youth in a demand-aware and meaningful way. Another large focus is the shift in the social narrative that organizations like Christel House are trying to embrace: we need to create spaces where young people are comfortable and equipped to take on the challenges they want to take on, be that a job, training, or further education.
She emphasized the role of the community, and Bush Radio listeners in this empowerment. Christel house is on the lookout for corporate placement partners, community partners, as well as donors and advisors for the success of this program.
To learn more, visit https://sa.christelhouse.org/ or email 10x@sa.christelhouse.org
Listen below to here more about the interview:
Produced by: Madhav Prakash
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