Youth Capital is an advocacy campaign calling for policy change to solve youth unemployment with the vision of a South Africa where every young person has the skills and opportunity to get their first job.
Ekta Somera of Umkomaas is a Youth Capital community mobiliser who hosted a workshop at the Umkomaas public library last week to introduce the organisation to local youths.
It was an open-invite meeting, and those who visited the library for their own leisure were also welcome to join in the conversation.
Sky Oyama, the founder of another youth organisation, attended and brought along with him a few enthusiastic learners from different high schools. He also mentioned that the conversation was an eye-opener.
”After extensive engagements with young South Africans and a research review, we as Youth Capital have prioritised 10 main challenges that need to be addressed to shift the needle on the crisis; we call this our Action Plan,” said Somera.
She explained the Action Plan, and each person had an opportunity to introduce themselves and describe their ambitions.
“We talked about youth unemployment, and it became a safe space to express concerns and opinions about education and qualifications, the cost of job-seeking, public employment programmes and more.”
Somera joined Youth Capital because she believes that its values align with hers.
”Unemployment is a major issue in South Africa, one which cannot be changed overnight. However, we are actively trying to find solutions and engaging directly with young people who are suffering the consequences of it. Together I believe we are making some difference,” she added.
Somera will be hosting a series of workshops to mobilise young people to participate in Youth Capital’s campaigns and activities, which will hopefully empower young people with information to call for solutions to youth unemployment.
The next workshop will be held at the Umkomaas Public Library on Saturday, April 27. For more information, call 073 2767174 or visit www.youthcapital.co.za
There are also plans to extend these workshops to different parts of the South Coast.
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