YearBeyond applications open for unemployed youth

GEORGE NEWS - Applications for unemployed youth to take part in the YearBeyond programme are open.

This national programme, initiated in the Western Cape, provides unemployed youth with meaningful work experience and a pathway to further studies or work, while at the same time encouraging a culture of community service.

There are various streams within the YearBeyond programme where youth can be placed. To qualify, you must be between the ages of 18 and 25, live within a 5km radius of a YearBeyond site (map available on website) and you must be registered on the SAYouth.Mobi platform.

Some of the streams have additional qualification criteria such as minimum matric marks in languages or maths.

In George, the implementing agent for YearBeyond is Womb to Tomb and they have various YearBeyond sites.

Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Ricardo Mackenzie says young people who are unsure what to do next can take up this opportunity to gain a year's practical experience, improve their CV and gain important skills that will help them get employment opportunities.

"We want to offer our youth this hand up to help them take the next steps towards becoming successful adults."

Premier Alan Winde says the programme is critical in preparing young people for the job market and in helping to guide them to their future careers. "I am proud of YearBeyond and the Yeboneers," he says.

"When I meet them, I am always astounded by the enthusiasm and dedication of these young people. This gives me hope.

"While the Western Cape's youth unemployment is more than 10% lower than other provinces, we must keep working as hard as we can to enable young people to find jobs. I urge all qualifying youths to take advantage of this fantastic initiative."