Latest news with #PROTEC
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Effective empowerment of women will boost the economy
Refilwe Lesufi | Published 14 minutes ago As Women's Month continues to be commemorated in South Africa with colourful banners and applause, it is worth noting that for many women and girls, the struggle for equal opportunity is a daily lived experience. Efforts to empower women and girls in South Africa have not resulted in an impactful shift in addressing historical disparities. The labour market continues to favour men and shows minimal signs of making real progress towards improving prospects for women. Stats SA's latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey for the second quarter of 2025 reveals ongoing disparities in the labour market. A media statement by Stats SA notes that the unemployment rate for women in this period was 35,9% compared with 31,0% for men, a gap of 4,9 percentage points. 'These differences reflect persistent gender imbalances in unemployment, labour force participation and the sectors in which men and women are employed.' Education is also not closing the gap in unemployment for South African women, according to the Stats SA statement, and gender disparities in the labour market remain entrenched across all levels of educational attainment. 'In the second quarter of 2025, the official unemployment rate for graduates stood at 12,2%, marking a 0,5 percentage point increase from the previous quarter. … a closer look reveals a persistent gender gap among the most educated. Female graduates faced an unemployment rate of 15%, compared to 8,9% for their male counterparts, a difference of 6,1 percentage points.' A gender-focused approach is needed to deliver employment opportunities that are inclusive and responsive to challenges faced by women. In South Africa, a large share of the country's scarce skills lies within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM ) fields. According to the Reginsights article, ''The Most In-Demand Skills in South Africa 2025,' skills such as ICT specialists, engineering professionals, healthcare workers, renewable energy experts, technicians, education specialists, agricultural scientists, finance specialists, and logistics professionals are all in short supply. STEM as a strategic driver offers a powerful, gender-focused pathway to creating inclusive employment opportunities, especially for women in rural areas, informal settlements and townships, while directly addressing the unique barriers they face. PROTEC is an independent NPO that provides education support in STEM gateway subjects – Mathematics, Technology and Science – as well as English and World of Work life skills training. In partnership with our funders, we have consistently committed to advancing the gender equality and redress agenda. More than 63% of our total beneficiaries are female, and we are seeing a growing number of young women pursuing careers in engineering, science, and other STEM fields that were once male-dominated. In 2024, ten of PROTEC's top twelve matric beneficiaries were female. Why is a focus on women so important? An article by the Stellenbosch University Business School in December 2024, titled ' Equal pay for equal work: How does South Africa measure up? ' reveals that, 'In South Africa, around 38% of households are headed by women. Female-headed households are approximately 40% poorer than those headed by men. Also, 48% of female-headed households support extended family members compared to only 23% of male-headed households.' Women bear a disproportionate burden in caring for children, earn less than men, are more vulnerable to domestic violence, and face greater challenges in accessing resources to improve their lives — illustrating how power dynamics continue to favour men. With concerted effort by South African organisations across the board, we can break barriers, redress imbalances, and ensure that South Africa's future workforce is inclusive and ready for the challenges of tomorrow. Industry leaders can actively invest in: Exposure – by introducing girls to STEM career paths from an early age. Support – by funding education, training, and resources. Mentorship – by connecting learners with role models. Employment pathways – through internships, bursaries and jobs. As UN Women reminds us: 'Ensuring women's and girls' rights in all areas of their lives is the only way to secure prosperous and just economies and build a healthy planet for future generations.' By deliberately empowering girls and women, we have the power to reshape history, drive economic growth, reduce poverty and improve health and livelihoods.
IOL News
26-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Addressing hidden challenges that SA's youth face
As South Africa marks Youth Month, the national conversation tends to focus – rightly – on rising youth unemployment. But less attention tends to be given to the often invisible barriers standing in the way of young people: limited access to mentorship and basic life-skills, real-world career guidance and support networks needed to bridge the gap between school and success. There's a lot that can be – and needs to be – done to guide and support young people in South Africa to achieve their goals of bright futures, even in the face of high unemployment. Sharing wide-ranging lifeskills and guidance in workplace skills will give youngsters confidence, an ability to communicate effectively, an understanding of their accountability and a clear vision of their chosen career paths. I believe that with increased informal and formal investment in our youth, we can reduce unemployment and give more young people hope for the future. Opportunities may be rare in many parts of the country, but youth can be encouraged to seek out those that do exist – whether it is support, training or stipend work, from government, NPOs, individual mentors, businesses or any organisations – and make the most of them. Within our tertiary institutions, there are always ways to get involved and reach out for support when needed. One of PROTEC's many alumni, Tracy Nyongwana from PROTEC Tongaat, faced major obstacles in her life, growing up in the village of Ndwedwe, but she overcame them with persistence and grit. She passed matric with six distinctions, achieved two degrees and has embarked on a promising STEM career. Tracy always made the most of the opportunities she encountered. She says that wherever she could, she reached out to organisations and people who were in a position to support or guide her. Her advice to young people facing challenges is, 'Get involved and reach out. There's so much support available if you look for it. You don't have to go through your trials alone.' With this in mind, people who live or work with youth can help them to find their purpose, even in the face of limited opportunities. By working with them through their values, abilities and interests and by encouraging them to make a difference within their communities, they could be well on their way to seeing themselves in a whole new light and finding as yet untapped opportunities. Another personal skill that always stands young people in good stead is resilience, which can be taught and developed. Helping young people to develop self-awareness and a growth mindset, manage their emotions and practise coping skills for dealing with challenges that include problem-solving, finding support and working to correct negative thinking will make a difference. Following on this is an attitude that is wisely encouraged by one of our tutors is, 'Never retreat – failure is not a death sentence, but laziness and procrastination are your enemies.' Valuable too, is teaching youth – whether they are unemployed, working or studying – good communication skills and helping them to share their insights and ideas clearly and simply. Good communication skills will set them apart and will help them to think more clearly, sharpening their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Whatever can be done to build the confidence and skills of our young people, whatever their level of education, can be done by all – parents, family, teachers, community leaders, organisations, corporates, NPOs and others. It's possible to inspire and encourage where life has become disheartening; it's crucial to guide and support, finding avenues for small entrepreneurships or building businesses; and it's necessary to remind our youth to be curious, to be persistent, and to remember that someone is rooting for them.
