Soil of Africa leads charge against youth unemployment
This follows after over 200 young people from Mamelodi recently participated in interview sessions with seven prominent companies in South Africa.
Bongani Ramontja from Soil of Africa said the youths participated in interview sessions with the companies as part of a business and sales training learnership programme.
The programme, which was started a couple of months ago, has the aim of giving youth skills and knowledge to start their businesses or access job opportunities with the aim of fighting unemployment amongst the youth.
'This initiative forms part of our ongoing commitment to equipping young South Africans with the practical skills and workplace experience needed to thrive in today's competitive economy,' said Ramontja.
'The learnership focuses on developing core business competencies and sales expertise, providing candidates with a solid foundation for sustainable employment and career growth.
'We are confident that every one of these talented candidates will be successfully placed, marking a significant milestone in our mission to tackle youth unemployment head-on. We practise what we preach.'
The organisation remains steadfast in its dedication to empowering the next generation and building pathways to meaningful, long-term employment.
'Together with our partners, we continue to invest in the future of South Africa, one opportunity at a time.'
The interviews were held at Shomishanang Primary School in Mamelodi East and, the programme will then go to other areas like Mabopane, Soshanguve and Ga-Rankuwa.
Soil of Africa regional convener Joseph Maake said the organisation partnered with stakeholders to offer skills development training to unemployed youth in and around Tshwane.
Maake said the programme is aimed at fighting poverty and unemployment among the youth in and around Tshwane.
'The youth were enrolled in our six-month skills development learnership initiative called Business Management and Sales Learnership.'
'The learnership programme changes their lives and helps them start their businesses, or use the certificates to access job opportunities,' said Maake.
He said the youth participated in theory training and then put it into practice, and every month they get a stipend of R2 000.
'The programme has been going on for a couple of months.
'The first intake was in Mamelodi East, and then we moved to Hammanskraal with a target of enrolling 200 unemployed youth into this initiative.'
The participants were taken to different businesses to practise what they had learned and to get first-hand experience on how to run businesses.
ALSO READ: Community patrollers tackle early morning crime in Mamelodi
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