Geographical and gender disparities, limited access to proper education and an unstable economy all play a role in the struggles of young jobless South Africans. Therefore, youth empowerment programmes should not be seen as just initiatives; they are an investment in young people's future and, in turn, a key to addressing pressing social challenges.

These initiatives are designed to develop leadership skills, encourage critical thinking and foster a problem-solving mindset in young professionals.

Unemployment in South Africa: The Youth Perspective

Young South Africans under the age of 34 live with the harsh realities of unemployment. A staggering 45.5% of young people in the country are jobless — much higher than the national average of 32.9%. This frightening statistic shows how dire an intervention is to change the circumstances of young South Africans' lives.

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The Importance of Experience: A Key to Youth Employability

While education provides young professionals with essential theoretical knowledge for business careers, a degree alone does not guarantee employment after graduation.

According to the 2022 Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa report, some form of experience significantly increased young jobseekers' chances of being employed, more so than adults, even after a period of inactivity.

This "experience divide" further proves why youth empowerment initiatives are crucial in developing young professionals. Programmes like internships, apprenticeships and experiential learning programmes equip them with the necessary skill set and boost their employability.

Social Challenges: How Youth Empowerment Gives Power to Communities

Facing unemployment, many young people turn to risky and unhealthy ways to make a living, often resulting in lives marked by crime and substance abuse. Youth empowerment initiatives can educate young people on alternative options to achieve success. By offering mentorships, vocational training and entrepreneurship development, these initiatives lay the foundation for a better future.

Briefly News' Role in Youth Empowerment

As a leading news platform, Briefly News recognises the importance of youth empowerment. In June, we launched a special project for Youth Month, titled 'Briefly News Young Money Makers.' The project highlighted the journeys of seven young, up-and-coming entrepreneurs who had to build businesses from scratch. Briefly News' 'Young Money Makers' gave these young entrepreneurs a free platform to promote their businesses and share their empowering stories with a large online audience.

The project reached 1.8 million people online during Youth Month. Their stories also highlighted the importance of mentorship and development programmes for young professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs, giving insights to other young South Africans wishing to follow suit.

Entrepreneurship offers a promising pathway to economic stability and a solution to youth unemployment. However, a critical barrier for young aspiring entrepreneurs is the lack of mentorship and structured support.

One of Briefly News' 'Young Money Makers' participants, Tinashe Zano, shed light on how important youth initiatives are for young professionals' growth.

Zano, the Founder of Nspire footwear, is a chartered accountant with his own firm. During our interview, the young entrepreneur discussed how the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), South Africa's pre-eminent accountancy body, runs mentoring programmes to develop their young members.

The entrepreneur said his mentor would ask thought-provoking questions and help him find solutions to obstacles he would not have considered before. While the mentorship programmes ordinarily last a year, Zano added that he still speaks to his mentor, and the programme helped build a life-long connection.

Briefly News also offers various skills training options throughout the year aimed at empowering the youth. A few of our initiatives include the workshop AI for Journalists: Power Up Your Reporting Ethically, which was held in February 2024.

The media platform also created a copywriting course for avid writers. This course was designed for people to study in their own time and
offers one-on-one mentorship, practical assignments, CV-creation consultation and an internship.

The publication also hosted a free AI webinar in November 2024.

Conclusion

Youth development initiatives are crucial for combating unemployment among young South Africans and contributing to economic growth. Through skills training, mentorship and experiential learning, young people can be equipped with the tools needed to become leaders with honed problem-solving and forward-thinking skills within their communities.

Briefly News, through projects like 'Young Money Makers' and ongoing educational workshops, has shown its commitment to supporting young people's growth and success.

Briefly News dedicated itself to offering various workshops, courses, webinars and projects that help young people gain exposure to aid in their success. The journey towards reducing youth unemployment is long, but with united efforts and steadfast commitment, we can make a meaningful impact in the lives of the country's young people.

For more information, visit www.briefly.co.za. You can follow Briefly News on Facebook, X, Instagram, or on TikTok. 

*Image courtesy of Briefly News