Youth Day 2020

Youth are the future: Barloworld celebrates Youth Month 2020.

Youth Day in South Africa commemorates the Soweto Youth Uprising of June 16th 1976, in which thousands of young Black students took to the streets in a peaceful demonstration in protest against the abhorrent ‘Bantu Education Policy’. The initial protest sparked similar uprisings all over the country. Over 700 (mostly young people) lost their lives in these marches. The celebration of Youth Day is a reminder of the powerful role that young people have played in South Africa’s historical struggle for equal education and democracy.

Africa has the largest concentration of young people in the world. In South Africa, more than 35% of the population is between the ages of 15-34 years old. Youth Day provides an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come as a nation in terms of education and policy, but also how much remains to be done.

Through our extensive range of Young Talent Programmes, Barloworld is committed to ensuring that young South Africans have access to a stake in the country’s economy. We provide opportunities for graduates and unemployed youth to gain vital work experience, training and access to qualifications in the form of learnerships, internships, work readiness programmes and workplace in-house training.

Youth Empowerment Service (YES) Programme.

Research shows that graduates and school leavers with at least 1 year of working experience, have a better chance of being gainfully employed than those without work experience. Launched in 2018 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ‘YES’ programme is a 12-month quality work experience initiative which provides unemployed youth with a ‘first chance’ at work and equips them with skills so that they can make an economic contribution to their immediate families and broader communities.

The Barloworld CA Trainee Programme.

Initiated in 1999, this is one of Barloworld’s longest running Young Talent Programmes, aimed at growing critical skills and developing a potential pool of future leaders. This 3 year programme is accredited by the South African Institute of Accountants (SAICA) and was established as an alternative route for young people to train and qualify as chartered accountants.

Barloworld Artisan Programmes.

The Barloworld Academies provide young artisans with a range of opportunities by offering access to training opportunities in our Equipment, Automotive and Logistics businesses. Various technical vocational qualifications are available, including training for Petrol or Diesel Mechanics and Heavy Earthmoving Equipment Mechanics.

Celebrating Youth Day.

The current COVID-19 national lockdown in South Africa means that celebrations this year are likely to take a virtual form. Regardless of how you choose to spend this public holiday, its significance cannot be diminished. For Barloworld, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to youth development and empowering young South Africans. Happy Youth Day 2020.