Include youth when designing initiatives

ONE of the reasons for the growing unemployment problem which youth are facing is that the world, including South Africa, is experiencing an economic downturn. Other reasons are:

Many of our youngsters have created a habit of focusing only on taking value from their employers instead of adding value. Youth have a culture of postcolonial victimisation from an early age – blaming adversities on skin colour has essentially created a large group of egoistic and dysfunctional youth that are not desirable to hire as employees. Some of these youth rely on social grants.

Youth unemployment is costing the South African economy millions a day in lost productivity, so the need to get young people into work is greater than ever. To achieve longterm, systemic change, we have work to do.

Without work experience and income, our youth are vulnerable to a lifetime of continued poverty.

The government, charities and employers must work together to give these disadvantaged young people the long-term support they need to escape unemployment for good. Second, our youth need to be involved in discussions about programmes, policy and strategy that affect them. Instead of designing things for them, we should design it with them.

Youth must not only be encouraged to go to university or college, they should be encouraged to pursue their passion. Vocational training should be encouraged. Lastly, the government must set up an independent department for the eradication of unemployment. A department for the control of unemployment will certainly produce good results.

Let’s not forget that our youth are the future pillars of our society. NILOFAR DAWOOD

Sherwood