Job creation in South Africa’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector has received a $1-million boost.

Philanthropic organisation, the Rockefeller Foundation, has made a $1-million grant available to South African ICT services provider EOH to support the local company’s Youth Job Creation Initiative.

The initiative, which was launched in 2012, is aimed at stimulating job creation for the youth by enhancing interaction between the youth and EOH’s customers, business partners and government.

The grant will enable EOH to place 1 750 unemployed youth in a Work Readiness Programme this year. The youth will combine theory training with practical work experience at EOH partners or clients’ businesses.

It was also expected to encourage more EOH partners to become involved in the job creation initiative.

“It is our experience that once companies are involved and have experienced the initiative they will stay involved, thereby allowing us to scale up the initiative exponentially. It has also been proven that a young person with one year’s work experience has an 80% chance of remaining in the formal working sector for the remainder of their career lives. It’s not only good for business, but good for society,” said EOH CEO Asher Bohbot.

The grant forms part of the Rockefeller Foundation’s Digital Jobs Africa initiative, which is aimed at impacting the lives of one-million people across Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa by catalysing sustainable ICT-enabled employment opportunities for the youth.

“Digital skills are fast becoming a requirement for gaining well-paid employment and ICT-powered jobs are critical in helping young people develop the required skills for the jobs of today and the future.

“We are pleased to support EOH in this venture to scale up jobs for South Africa’s youth in the sector and look forward to seeing the young people’s lives, as well as their communities, improved due to their accessing these opportunities,” said Rockefeller Foundation Africa regional office MD Mamadou Biteye.