At 54%, South Africa has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. At the forefront of this battle is Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, a not-for-profit organisation that finds jobs for young people across South Africa. 

Rob Urquhart, Head of Knowledge and Research at Harambee, explains that 1 out of every 2 young people is unemployed. “Organisations like Harambee, and other organisations that work with young people, play a critical role in helping youth access employment opportunities… outside of the formal sector.”

According to the National Development Plan, by 2030, 90% of new jobs will be created by small business. This is where the opportunity lies. And Africa needs partnerships in order to unlock this potential.

This video insert appeared in the BBC World News Africa Rise and Shine report on the BBC Africa channel (2 May 2019). 

Other Interesting Articles

Harambee in the News

Empowering South Africa’s Youth: The Key Role of Collaborative Partnerships

20 Nov 2023

In a recent article, Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership SA, highlights the critical issue of youth unemployment in South Africa and emphasizes the need for collaboration between business and government to address this pressing challenge. Mavuso points out that while businesses face various economic challenges, youth unemployment poses the most significant risk to social stability.


Read More >

 

Harambee in the News

Empowering South Africa’s Youth: The Key Role of Collaborative Partnerships

09 Nov 2023

The automotive repair industry in South Africa has long been a male-dominated field, with limited data on the representation of female artisans. This disparity in gender representation becomes even more concerning given the country’s high youth unemployment rate, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where it surpasses the national average. In response to this challenge, a groundbreaking partnership between Wise Cracks, a local windscreen repair company, and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator was initiated. Their aim was to empower young women from townships in the Eastern Cape through entrepreneurship and to expand the market for windscreen repair, promoting both cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability.


Read More >

 

Wise Cracks

Harambee in the News

Empowering Women in South Africa’s Automotive Repair Industry

07 Nov 2023

The automotive repair industry in South Africa has long been a male-dominated field, with limited data on the representation of female artisans. This disparity in gender representation becomes even more concerning given the country’s high youth unemployment rate, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where it surpasses the national average. In response to this challenge, a groundbreaking partnership between Wise Cracks, a local windscreen repair company, and Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator was initiated. Their aim was to empower young women from townships in the Eastern Cape through entrepreneurship and to expand the market for windscreen repair, promoting both cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability.


Read More >