Youth Development
Enhancing youth access to learning and earning opportunities The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is a South Africanbased agency established primarily to address challenges faced by the nation’s youth. The function of the NYDA is to mainstream youth development programmes aimed at improving the livelihoods of the youth of South Africa. Asanda Luwaca, NYDA Executive Chairperson explains more... What programmes does NYDA offer to unlock job creation and enable opportunities for the youth?
The programmes are aimed to enhancing youth access to learning and earning opportunities. Young people may find employment, on-the-job learning, improved skills, earn stipends, find opportunities that match what they studied for. • The Grant Programme provides young entrepreneurs with an opportunity to access both financial and non-financial business development services to equip youth-owned enterprises in driving youth employment. • The NYDA Jobs Programme is designed to assist in alleviating the scourge of youth unemployment through a database in which young people can register their CVs and supporting documentation. This is then made available to stakeholders including private companies who may have opportunities in varying fields. These may include full-time employment opportunities, learnerships, internships and training. • National Youth Service Programme empowers young people with technical skills to start their own businesses or
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look for employment opportunities. The NYDA Technical Skills Programme assists young people to become qualified artisans and certified electricians.
What are the criteria to access assistance from NYDA? The young person needs to be a South African citizen between the ages of 14 and 35. The NYDA assists young people of all races provided they qualify to enrol for a specific programme/ project/opportunity as per requirements.
How sustainable are the programmes run by NYDA and what mechanisms are in place to provide support? The NYDA provides after-care support. Moreover, the Grant and Voucher Programmes require a young person to participate in Business Management Training, which is made compulsory in an effort to ensure sustainability. The courses are offered at no cost to young people. All other NYDA products and services are also free. Young people are
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