The Presidential Employment Stimulus was established in October 2020 in response to the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and two years leater, it has reached the million-participant milestone.

In it’s Febraury 2023 report, the Presidential Employment Stimulus recognises the interventions, many departments and public bodies that have supported the plan of action, including SA Youth, the zero-rated digital platform run by Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus is of course about more than the numbers – it’s also about providing work experience in a labour market in which, for many young people in particular, that is hard. It’s about creating real social value; about economic and social inclusion and about unlocking agency at community level. It’s also about incomes spent in local economies, providing much-needed support to the informal sector and small enterprise – and trickling up into the wider economy from there.

Just last week, 150,000 young people started work at over 22,000 schools, as part of the next cohort of the Basic Education Employment Initiative – reaching every community in the country, in what is, in fact, the single largest youth employment programme in our history. It provides a high quality work experience for participants – while making a difference in schools. Over 1,5 million young people applied for these jobs.

This is of course just one of the many programmes making a difference – read more about this programme and others below:

Source: The Presidential Employment Stimulus Report: Building a society that works. A million jobs, opportunities and more. Published February 2023. Publication issued by The Presidency, South Africa. For more information see https://www.stateofthenation.gov.za/employment-stimulusdashboard

Other Interesting Articles

Cape Town's Tourism Boost: Youth Employment Surges at V&A Waterfront

Harambee in the News

Cape Town’s Tourism Boost: Youth Employment Surges at V&A Waterfront

07 Dec 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

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 >