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THE LEARNING TRUST
CHAMPIONING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT THROUGH THE SOCIAL EMPLOYMENT FUND PROJECT
South Africa is grappling with a pervasive unemployment crisis, particularly among its youth in underserved communities, which significantly exacerbates the country's socioeconomic disparities.
Statistics reveal a staggering 45.5% unemployment rate among young people aged 15-34 years, starkly higher than the national average of 32.9% in the first quarter of 2024.
In this challenging landscape, the after-school sector has emerged as a key youth employer.
The Learning Trust (TLT) is an intermediary grantmaker providing emerging After School Programmes (ASPs) with small grants and capacity support to ensure their sustainability and growth.
TLT's strategic focus on the afterschool sector is a cornerstone of its efforts to combat youth unemployment and uplift communities. By supporting ASPs, TLT is creating thriving educational environments that not only enhance learning outcomes but also improve employment outcomes for the youth.
The Social Employment Fund (SEF), funded by the Industrial Development Corporation of SA (IDC) has demonstrated that public employment programmes, when focused on communitybased organisations (CBOs), can achieve significant scale, quality, and sustainability. This adaptive governance model, characterised by open communication and shared learning, has been instrumental in fostering collaboration and capacity building.
Maximizing Impact
TLT and its implementing partners are focusing on several strategic objectives, including:
• Mobilising funding to support non-wage costs such as training and mentoring youth.
• Sharing best-practice models to address common needs in work readiness, learning, and support materials.
• Integrating ASPs into schools and classrooms through public employment programmes like the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).
The benefits of this approach are manifold. ASPs have scaled their operations, improved programme quality, and increased the number of beneficiaries. For example, Awarenet, a long-time partner of TLT, expanded its robotics and coding programmes from 20 to 160 learners and the OLICO Maths Programme from 50 to 200 learners, thanks to SEF participants.
Transformative Impact on Youth Employment
According to research commissioned by TLT earlier this year into the SEF programme, youth employment has seen significant gains through these efforts. Young people have acquired work experience, developed skills, built confidence, and established valuable connections, leading to further opportunities. The SEF has also generated income for young people, helping to alleviate household financial pressures and improve their long-term employment prospects.
TLT is committed to scaling its impact through social impact investment and building systems to measure outcomes effectively.
Despite some challenges, such as the fragmented nature of the sector and varying quality among ASPs, most participants would choose to participate in SEF again, citing its positive impact on their organisations and personal development.
The after-school sector not only addresses youth unemployment but also plays a critical role in education recovery and community development. ASPs provide essential support, filling gaps left by the formal education system and offering safe spaces for learning and enrichment.
These programmes enable learners in low- and no-fee schools to improve their academic results while also serving as a significant youth employer.
Looking ahead, TLT is committed to scaling its impact through social impact investment and building systems to measure outcomes effectively. The goal is to leapfrog youth into productive work and reskill current workers for job retention and ongoing economic productivity.
Through initiatives like SEF and the dedicated efforts of after school organisations, the sector is making substantial gains in creating sustainable livelihoods and brighter futures for young people across the country.
CONTACT DETAILS
Website: www.thelearningtrust.org
Email: info@thelearningtrust.org
Address: 173 Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
