Schauenburg Systems (Pty) Ltd., a leading technology company in the field of mine safety, through its partnership with the Youth Employment Service (YES), is changing the lives of 32 South African youth by offering them 12-month quality work experiences.

The majority of the youth in the programme (30) are based in the North West, with two in Gauteng, and are gaining critical skills and experience in the day to day operations of lamprooms in the mining sector.

Schauenburg International – Africa Group CEO, Dr Dieter Kovar, says “with 25 work readiness modules including topics such as communication, professionalism, and money management and the additional 12 entrepreneurial modules to empower youth to run their own businesses, we believe that the learning experience these youth will gain through the cooperation with YES, is fully in line with our company’s philosophy of being “A Great Place to Grow”.

By saying YES, Schauenburg Systems is joining a network of over 1,500 corporate partners that have created over 55,000 work opportunities in 126 weeks. Youth unemployment in South Africa has exceeded 70% in quarter one of 2021 (expanded definition). With lifetime unemployment a stark reality for many of these youth, Schauenburg Systems has put itself on the first line of defence by saying YES to creating a future that works. 

These 32 work experiences are far more than a pay cheque; they represent a critical first chance at entering the workforce. With 88.4% of YES Youth coming from grant-recipient households, the salaries paid to youth by corporate partners such as Schauenburg Systems create a ripple effect, reverberating across families and even communities.

Schauenburg Systems’ YES youth just received their learning material and digital tools that will give them access to the learning modules on the YES program. This took place at an induction event that was scheduled at Schauenburg Systems’ Rustenburg facility.

YES chief executive, Dr Tashmia Ismail-Saville, says “It’s important to recognise that while our youth may be unemployed, they are not unemployable. By providing opportunities to our youth, companies like Schauenburg are showing South African business the way. The ability and willingness to train young people on the job brings energy into their business while triggering an economic ripple effect that helps reignite an economy where young people are included.”