KOPANO MONAHENG
YOUNG people will never become successful in this country if they don’t get the support and the right opportunities.
South Africa is the continent’s most advanced economy, yet the unemployment rate is at 43.8% for those aged 15-34 and over 40% for the people living in Madibeng Local Municipality in the North West province, that’s according to Statistics South Africa Community Survey 2022.
To help reverse these figures, we need to ensure that young people have the skills to be employable or become entrepreneurs.
“At Bridgestone, we believe mobility can change lives,” said corporate social investment (CSI) manager, Chantel Baxter.
Baxter said Project Turnkey reflects their commitment to supporting the communities around their Brits plant by helping young people gain a practical skill that improves their independence and employability by removing the financial barriers to obtaining a driver’s licence.
She said they hope to give these pupils greater confidence and access to the opportunities that mobility makes possible.
In upskilling the youth, the following needs to be taken into consideration:
Yes, pupils need opportunities for them to realise their potential but they also needed to do well academically.
Ezimtoti News spoke to a grade 11&12 pupils Keletso Mphahlele (18) and Thabo Dichabe (17) both from Mogale Technical Secondary School.
Both pupils were selected for the Project Turnkey initiative.
Not only they were excited about their involvement in the programme, but they promising to give it their all.
Upskilling, now and forever South Africa needs to equip young people with driving skills and knowledge if they are to meet their full potential.
However, pupils who were not part of the 62 pupils selected for this year’s Project Turnkey initiative have already raised their hands to say they’re ready in taking part in the programme when it happens place again next year.
Everyone who attended the launch event on Friday 20 March at the Mogale Technical Secondary School were excited about the programme.
Bridgestone keeps showing the world how good they are as a company by initiating youth projects like this one today.
Bridgestone employs approximately 130,000 people globally and operates in over 150 countries.
