Source: mrpfoundation.org
Youth Development is essential to helping the youth of South Africa prosper in life. There are far more prospective workers than there are jobs available for them, and many youth are not able to afford to study further and become more specialised. This is where youth development programmes come in. Offering young people work readiness programmes, opportunities to advance their education and make a difference in their communities are just some of the ways that youth development can change South Africa for the better.
Jump Start (through the Mr Price Foundation) is an exciting work readiness programme that develops the skills of unemployed young people and links them to career opportunities in the retail sector and the supply chain. Young job seekers face many challenges to becoming employable including lack of on-the-job training and South Africa’s high youth unemployment rate. The skills development programme aims to bridge the gap between school and the world of work by providing school-leavers between the ages of 18-33 with life skills and experiential training to help them enter the job market more prepared. The Jump Start Programme has been considered best practice for skills development and youth employment on the African continent by Nepad.

The programme upskills unemployed matriculants to become workplace ready for starter and entry level retail positions in stores, distribution centres and financial services. Candidates learn sought-after industry skills and gain workplace experience. While the programme won’t guarantee you a job, successful Jump Starters gain credible work readiness experience that retail employers are looking for.
For more information visit www.mrpfoundation.org