Jobless young South Africans often lose hope: new study proves the power of mentorship
Image supplied by the Centre for Social Development in Africa at the University of Johannesburg.
More than a third of young South Africans are not in employment, education or training. This cohort of 3.4 million (37.1% of those aged 15–24) risks long-term joblessness. Discouragement – giving up looking for work – is also a risk, as the latest data show. This has serious social and economic implications. Social and economic exclusion can lead to declining mental health, social drift, long-term dependence on grants and lost economic potential. In this article for The Conversation, Lauren Graham from the CSDA at the University of Johannesburg and Ariane De Lannoy from SALDRU reflect on what youth need to break this cycle. This includes the promising results from a pilot of the Basic Package of Support programme which points the way to potential interventions and solutions.