The disruptions caused by COVID-19 have amplified many of the challenges youth face in their daily lives. In 2020 alone, 20 million African jobs are on the line. Youth unemployment is becoming an even bigger threat than before.

The informal sector, a major source of income and employment for youth, is the hardest hit by COVID-19 with an expected increase of people living in extreme poverty. Now more than ever youth need to be trained to fight unemployment.

Since the onset of COVID-19 we have implemented dedicated emergency response programmes in five countries. With the help of The Embassy of The Netherlands in Mozambique, De Postcode Loterij and Wilde Ganzen, we have implemented a selected set of activities at all of our centres.

Facial masks and protective gloves were made by dressmaking departments and later distributed to communities around the centres in Zambia and Mozambique. We set up soup kitchens and distributed food parcels in Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique to ensure food security for our students and the wider community. A selected group of young entrepreneurs received start up kits to start their own businesses in Zambia and Namibia. Furthermore, in Zambia, Namibia and Botswana, youth counselors offer young people psychosocial support in the challenges they face since the offset of COVID-19.

Youth across Southern Africa need acces to vocational training so they can get a job and earn an income. Contribute now and empower youth across Southern Africa with skills to overcome COVID-19.