Brian Joss – South Africa’s ever spiralling rate of unemployment highlights the need for giving people the necessary skills to help them to find work, According to Statistics SA, 6.7-million people are unemployed which is 29% of those who could be working.
This means that more than 10 million people could be contributing to the economy.
The Covid-19 pandemic has made matters worse and it is more important than ever to give youth a better future.
“We believe that as a business; says Hein Jordt, managing director of Ctrack. “Corporate Social Responsibility is our ongoing commitment to operate ethically while contributing to the quality of life of our local community and the wider society. We have a responsibility to play a part in the upskilling challenge in our country. It plays an important role to uplift society and the broader economy. In addition, the working environment of the future will look much different and will require new skills, skills which are harder to come by in vulnerable communities where opportunities are lacking,” Jordt said.
Ctrack has been assisting the Amy Foundation since 2014, they are an NGO which has been offering development programmes to the youth in the Western Cape region. The company fits their vehicles with tracking devices and monitors the safety of their vehicles free of charge.
The Amy Foundation (formerly Amy Biehl Foundation) aspire to empower young people (between the ages of five to 35 years) who come from challenged backgrounds and vulnerable communities. They assist to develop emotionally well-rounded youngsters to make positive life choices and to become economically viable members of society. The Foundation’s slogan is Changing Lives.
“We play a pivotal role keeping an eye on the vehicles. We are also far more efficient and effective at managing the vehicles and their use,” Jordt said Kevin Chaplin, managing director of the Amy Foundation said:
“With the vehicles the foundation is able to assist with collection of bread, food items, clothing and volunteers as well as transporting staff and beneficiaries to various outreach programmes, camps and outings.
“After school programmes provide an environment which allows children to overcome educational shortcomings. We focus on creativity to make learning more enjoyable while fostering the drive to academic success. Our Youth Skills Development programmes help young adults to better understand and prepare for the world of work, what to expect from employees and how to create prospects for entrepreneurship”
With more than 1 000 youngsters taking part in daily programmes, the foundation empowers both the participants at schools, as well as surrounding communities.
“With the help of Ctrack’s free tracking service we can use that money to continue our work. As an NGO, we are dependent on all the help we can get to support young people to achieve more than what they have hoped for. Poor education results in a lack of skill and ability, which contributes to high unemployment. High unemployment fosters income inequality and slow economic growth, which in turn limit access to, and funding for growth and a better quality of life,” Chaplin said.
The Amy Foundation has been active in providing school children and young adults in the Cape Town area with enrichment opportunities for 22 years.
The Foundation was named after American student, Amy Biehl, a gifted and dynamic young woman who was committed to making a difference in South Africa when her life was tragically cut short in 1993. Determined to honour Amy’s love for South Africa and her belief in empowering young people, Amy’s parents founded the organisation.
“While employment opportunities remain limited, there are many ways in which we can assist young people through developing their talents and potential to become more employable, to create opportunities, to open the possibilities of entrepreneurship to even start their own businesses. This is what we want to see and what we work towards. We cannot thank Ctrack enough for their support over the past six years,” Chaplin said.
CAPTION Some of the children who benefit from the Amy Foundation with two of the facilitators
