South Africa project tackles youth unemployment

Johannesburg – Rising unemployment levels is a challenge confronting most African countries.

Over the next 30 years, almost 400 million young people could be jobless across the continent.

Yet most African economies are not growing fast enough to meet the demand for employment.

Take South Africa. The official unemployment rate in the country is at least 25 percent.

According to the South African Graduates Development Association, there are more than 600,000 unemployed graduates.

Against this grim backdrop, a training centre in Johannesburg is hoping to help high-school graduates find work.

The Southern Africa Youth Project, located in the township of Diepsloot, teaches graduates basic technical skills such as computer courses to help them find employment.

Neftaly Malatjie, who owns the training centre and employs a few workers, points to some of the difficulties facing job seekers.

“When you say there is an opportunity, an opportunity that wants five people, you find yourself with over 2,000 people who apply for that opportunity,” he told Al Jazeera.

“Many young people are now distressed. They have lost hope.”

Rose Ringane, a geology university student, says she is aware of the tough prospects before her.

“It’s going to be hard for us to get a job,” she told Al Jazeera.

“But what can we say? It’s South Africa. A person must have a Plan B and C. I am aware I might not get a job.”

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