I am sure I am not alone in my belief that a surge of optimism has gripped South Africa.
For the first time in a decade, we have the firm, ethical leadership required to guide the country as we grapple with the sensitive issues which have hindered our growth, including the trust deficit and inequality.
Afrika Tikkun is seizing the opportunity to respond to our new President’s call to “Send Me” – and we appeal to our peers to do the same.
We understand that it is not always easy for NGOs, no matter how well intentioned, to do this in a pragmatic way.
This is why, earlier this year, we announced our intention to adopt a new approach. From operating as a charity, we have now positioned ourselves as service providers to clients, developing participants through our Cradle to Career 360 model by equipping them with the precise skills required by corporate South Africa. We have already seen the success of this new approach, with a number of our graduates accessing opportunities within our client base.
However, we feel that we can still do more. Specifically, we want to deepen our involvement with South Africa’s employers, so that we can play a meaningful role in reducing youth unemployment. Already, plans for initiatives such as the Job Summit are laying the foundation for us to provide solutions.
Not only do we have 10 years’ experience in training young people for the work environment, we have also already developed a large pool of graduates who have been through our developmental programmes who can be primed to give effect to productive careers.
Marc Lubner CEO Afrika Tikkun