Give South Africa's youth a future

Marc Lubner - CEO of Afrika Tikkun

It’s heartening to witness the strength of the rule of law in this country. Deep-rooted corruption has come under public scrutiny and South Africans regularly witnessed the courts, and the Constitutional Court in particular, upholding the Constitution and demonstrating that no-one is above the law.

We observed democracy exercised during our local municipal elections and the shift of political power in our major metropolitan areas, indicating that there is a consequence for non-service delivery. Those public servants who recently took up office are aware of the same end fate should they not meet the public’s expectations.

But, we cannot deny that there have been painful moments too. It seems as though, no sooner had we recovered from the financial tumult brought about by 2015’s Nenegate, than headlines concerning state capture had us reeling.

We experienced #FeesMustFall and violent student protests; ongoing tension in the upper ranks of the presidency; the lingering threat of an economic downgrade…

It’s been stressful for all of us. But then again, stress is something that is not new to South Africans. In fact, it is this very stress that if harnessed, can produce miraculous results. The only way, however, is to look at aligning the stress of early childhood development, the stress of education, the stress of job skills training and the stress of employment together so that we channel our efforts to an objective of getting youth into jobs for which they are well suited. Many of us continue to worry about how the negative situation affects the cost of living and, ultimately, what this series of crises means for our jobs in a future that appears ever less certain.

If this is the experience for those of us who are settled with comfortable salaries, consider what life is like for young, unemployed South Africans – especially since unemployment is the highest it’s been in 13 years. Nor is this situation likely to improve in the short term, given the loss of confidence in the country’s stability. This affects direct foreign investment, impacting on the economy and resulting in a stressed labour market. Small wonder then that the youth has become disillusioned, their confidence crushed and their faith in the conventional systems of education and recruitment in tatters.

What can be done?

We’ve seen time and again that a dissatisfied youth is a dangerous dynamic in any country. Concerned about their future prospects, it may only be a matter of time until they react, with potentially disastrous consequences.

Clearly, something must be done. But what if I told you that something is, indeed, being done? According to Trialogue, South African corporates invest R8bn annually in CSI initiatives with a fair proportion targeting youth-related projects. The spend that is taking place is, whilst well intentioned, not being optimised correctly because there isn’t an efficient integrated cradle-to-career model where the end outcome is one which is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty. Various aspects of development are certainly being addressed but there are very few that are pulling the processes together to produce individuals going into jobs they are well suited to. Too many youths are taking jobs that pay a wage simply to survive rather than following their dreams and ambitions, allowing creativity and productivity to thrive. An individual in a job they are excited about invariably creates opportunities for other jobs to be created. Until we start to focus our educational efforts around helping to unlock the magic that exists individually, we will continue to produce uninspired individuals who lack the ability or the desire to create further employment. That is, in addition to government expenditure in the same area.

So, why are we not seeing success? Given the dedication to their cause, why is South Africa’s youth unable to access the education or employment which may change their circumstances?

I believe that the answer to these questions lies in the fact that although various South African entities are doing their utmost to target the problem, there is no single, cohesive solution. We see many disparate, fragmented projects which can never have the same powerful impact as a laser targeted, integrated approach.

As CEO of Afrika Tikkun, an organisation dedicated to developing youth to becoming work-ready, active citizens through a unique cradle-to-career model, I have seen first-hand the effectiveness that may result when corporates adopt a values-driven ethos that incorporates social development.

I maintain that employment is best created by companies that have embraced the social development imperative. And this is what young South Africa needs, more than anything else: employment, and the skills to help them make the most of it.

This has strengthened my belief that it is by acting together – corporates, communities, government, NGOs – that we will be able to make the greatest difference. I understand that aligning the various strategies of these diverse stakeholders would be a complex process. However, I also believe that it would be well worth the effort, and expense, to battle through these difficulties – especially if it resulted in a set of clearly defined, actionable objectives that would help us find answers to South Africa’s most pressing challenges, once and for all.

A way forward

In 2017, I will be initiating a collective wherein representatives from private sector, government and NGOs partake in a workshop hosted by renowned Harvard professor, Prof Anthony Hourihan to help us create a clearly defined set of objectives to generate employment for the youth. This will serve as the basis for workable action plans. Working together in this manner ensures that the strategies we craft are not only sustainable, they also deliver to scale.

We have all seen what this beautiful, courageous, heart-filled country is capable of. However, this is something that the young people who are to take over the reins have yet to experience for themselves. For them, casting their gaze about a flailing country, tales of South Africa’s greatness remain just that – tales. Let’s offer them hope and help them see the potential and possibilities of being here. Let’s create that potential and those possibilities together. Let’s help South Africa’s youth see that there is a future here, one where they will be able to play a key part, and one which they can be proud of.