Collen Mashawana Foundation, a non-profit organisation (NPO), has launched a programme to facilitate solving the unemployment crisis in South Africa, especially the issue of youth unemployment. The Foundation says the towering youth unemployment problem means young people are not acquiring the skills or experience needed to drive the economy forward.

Nearly 42 percent of young people under the age of 30 are unemployed compared with less than 17 percent of adults over 30. More importantly, only one in eight working adults under 25 years of age have a job compared to 40 percent in most emerging economies.

The Collen Mashawana Foundation’s vision is to create a workforce of forward thinkers and dream builders and it aims to eradicate poverty and unemployment through job creation and the cultivation of job creators.

The Foundation’s Chairman Collen Mashawana says a multi-pronged strategy to increase employment and support inclusion and social cohesion is required, especially considering that nearly half of South Africa’s youth are unemployed.

“Unemployment inhibits the country’s economic development and imposes a larger burden on Government to provide social assistance. The recent call by Government, to encourage the business sector to work together, will surely unravel these challenges facing the country,” says Mashawana.

The Foundation’s Chairman has built strong relationships with all spheres of the South African Government and the private sector, devoting a lot of time in understanding its service delivery mandate.

“Though this particular non-profit organisation might not solve the challenge of youth unemployment entirely; ours is to contribute what we can to the best of our ability in assisting the youth of South Africa by running different programmes which will contribute positively to the critical issue of education and youth unemployment,” he explains.

Mashawana believes that the solution to poverty and job creation in South Africa lies in the encouragement of innovators who take responsibility for their immediate environment. “The ultimate aim of witnessing a society of change-makers and value creators within our country is perfectly possible as the harvest is great and there are many willing hands.”

“Government cannot resolve these challenges alone but by working together, anything is possible,” concludes Mashawana.

The Foundation’s CEO Marli Cannoway encourages the youth to visit the Collen Mashawana Foundation website for more detailed information on how the Foundation can assist them in job hunting and to register themselves on the Foundation’s database.

Connaway says the Foundation has bigger dreams and has not left the issues of education and youth unemployment to the Government only. “We are inviting any potential partner that would like to address the above issues to engage with us.”

The Collen Mashawana Foundation is targeting unemployed youth from ages 15 - 35. A dedicated team matches the CV’s with available vacancies that have been advertised on the site by employers from all sectors.

Employers from all industries are urged to continuously advertise vacancies with the Foundation itself. This innovation has been created to link job seekers with employers at no cost to either party. Job seekers must send their CV’s to info@collenmashawana.co.za

Contact:
Natalie Dudley
Tel: (011) 262-3410
Email: info@collenmashawana.co.za
Web: www.collenmashawana.co.za