NYDA BY JESSIE TAYLOR
The Young Patriots Programme Creating youth employment through volunteerism
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outh Africa has one of the world’s highest unemployment rates, with many youths struggling to access the jobs market. But one South African government agency is changing this by creating volunteering opportunities for young people. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) was established to address challenges faced by South Africa’s youth. The NYDA focuses on economic development through youth entrepreneurship, decent employment through jobs programmes, social cohesion and pathways for economic emancipation through the National Youth Service, and the monitoring and evaluation of the integrated youth development strategy. ADDRESSING YOUTH CHALLENGES The NYDA has developed an Integrated Youth Development Strategy that coordinates programmes that aim to alleviate poverty, generate urban and rural development, combat crime and substance abuse, and prevent social decay among youth.
14 | Public Sector Leaders | June 2022
The NYDA lobbies other organs of state to consider national priorities in respect of youth development. The NYDA offers the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP), which is a government initiative aimed at engaging South African youth in community service activities. The programme looks to strengthen service delivery, build patriotism, promote nationbuilding, foster social cohesion and assist the youth to acquire occupational skills. The programme is established on the basis that it’s necessary to take practical steps to increase youth volunteering because it helps youth break the poverty cycle by facilitating access to decent work and could assist in reducing the country’s high youth unemployment rate. Youth volunteering can also help develop young leaders, foster social cohesion, encourage greater citizen participation, generate respect for equality,
