Youth Employment Service (YES) South Africa

Understanding depression and anxiety🌱🧠. Depression and anxiety are among the biggest mental health challenges faced by youth today. Depression drains energy and motivation, often leaving a lasting sadness and a sense of hopelessness. Anxiety, with its overwhelming worry and physical symptoms like a racing heart, can make daily life feel impossible. YES is committed to empowering youth with understanding and tools to manage these challenges. Through #YESMindfulMatters, youth access Syked’s counselling, group therapy, and self-help resources, making mental health support accessible and meaningful. Let’s break the silence and prioritise mental well-being. #SayYES. Join the movement. Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs #MentalHealthMatters #YESMindfulMatters

Growing youth employability 🌱. YES stepped onto the stage as co-convener of the SA Youth Solutions Exchange 2024 with Chief Partnerships Officer Tsholo Mogotsi leading a vital discussion on “Growing youth employability to enable sustained transitions.” Esteemed panellists included Ignatius Ariyo (Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator), Nontsikelelo Makaula (National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), Bhavanesh Parbhoo (Social Employment Fund), and Dr Kate Philip (Presidential Employment Stimulus). Together, these leaders shared insights and sparked innovative ideas for youth to secure meaningful earning opportunities. #SayYES. Join us in solving together for scaled impact! Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs #SolutionsExchange2024 #SAYouth

Accelerating youth economic inclusion. As co-convener of the SA Youth Solutions Exchange 2024, YES CEO Ravi Naidoo joined a panel discussion on “What will it take to accelerate youth economic inclusion?” This annual event brought together public, private, and civil society sector leaders committed to unlocking opportunities for young South Africans. Four levers were highlighted: inclusive hiring, jobs in emerging sectors, self-employment, and ongoing work experience programmes—each critical to bridging the youth employment gap. Ravi emphasised YES's role in fostering continuous innovation and empowering youth with skills that are future-ready for in-demand roles. #SayYES. Join us in solving together for scaled impact! Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs #SolutionsExchange2024 #SAYouth The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa , Business Unity SA, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Sharmi Surianarain, Khulekani Mathe, Cert. Dir (IoDSA), Tshego Walker (nee Kgasago), Mosuoe Sekonyela, Penny Foley.

Spotlighting excellence. At the inaugural #YESTop35Under35 awards, in partnership with Daily Maverick, we celebrated the exceptional young professionals making bold moves and driving transformation across industries. Over and above receiving a certificate signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the youth each got a special CEO award for their groundbreaking contributions and game-changing moves in their respective fields. Among them are seven standout winners, shaking up their sectors with talent and leadership: Somila Skelem – Retail Karabo Mtsweni – Mining/Manufacturing/Automotive Tshegofatso S. – Finance Levy Sekonya – Creative/Tourism Humbulani Moeketsi – Entrepreneurship Phakitso Mohale – Technology Gcina Twala and Thato Mokwebo – Social Impact (The Daily Maverick Award) Learn more about the impact within their industries here: https://bit.ly/4f0lKWS. Join us in celebrating their achievements by creating more opportunities for youth. #SayYES. Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs.

Food Directions joins the #YESTop35Under35 as a sponsor. Thank you to Food Directions for making our cocktail event at the YES Top 35 Under 35, in partnership with Daily Maverick, extra special. 🍹 Your generous contribution brought a special touch to the evening, creating a unique atmosphere for networking and celebration among our young leaders. Thank you for helping us make this event memorable! 🙌🏾 Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4f13BZb. #SayYES. Join the future of change. #YESAlumni #EmpoweringYouth #TheFutureOfChange

Alluta’s Rise 🌟. Meet #YESTop35Under35 Alumni Alluta Goniwe, a determined Business Development Manager whose journey from financial struggles to corporate success is a story of perseverance. Despite the challenges, she earned a degree in International Relations and joined Forvis Mazars through the YES programme. Her hard work led to multiple promotions and a managerial role. Today, Alluta not only thrives in her career but has also launched a mother-daughter business, Adora, selling products for women of all ages while supporting her family. Her journey shows the power of perseverance and the game-changing impact of the YES programme. Read more about our #Top35Under35 youth here: https://bit.ly/4gyTbRI #SayYES. Join the future of change. Here’s how: https://bit.ly/3YExgAr. #Business #Innovation #YESAlumni #Top35Under35 Daily Maverick

Mental health matters 💚. October marks #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth—a time to focus on the mental well-being of our youth. Through #YESMindfulMatters, YES offers youth accessible mental health support via Syked. This platform provides 1-on-1 counselling, online group sessions, and 24/7 self-help resources. Our goal? To help YES Youth build resilience, confidence, and purpose by offering a safe, confidential space to prioritise their mental health. From therapy sessions to group support, we’re equipping youth with the tools to thrive personally and professionally. To boost participation, YES encourages our partner supervisors to support mental health initiatives by allowing youth time during the workday for online therapy🌻 . #SayYES. Join the movement. Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs #MentalHealthMonth #MentalHealthMatters #YouthEmpowerment

Empowering Africa’s future 🌍. YES COO Leanne Emery-Hunter joins Economist Impact Sustainability Week Africa as a featured panellist, discussing “Youth and the private sector: How can companies in Africa engage with young people?” Leanne will share insights on how businesses can foster meaningful connections with youth to create a more inclusive, sustainable future. Catch her at The Westin Hotel, Cape Town, on October 24th at 12:15 PM for this vital discussion. YES is proud to be part of this event, uniting industry leaders to shape Africa’s sustainable future. Register here: https://bit.ly/3UiRm1u. #SayYES. Join the future of change. Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs #SustainabilityWeekAfrica #YouthInBusiness #Business #Innovation

Celebrating partnerships and progress. Thank you to our event partners for making the #YESTop35Under35 event, in partnership with Daily Maverick, a success! 🙌🏾. With the support of Ninety One, 3G Mobile (Pty)Ltd, TFG (The Foschini Group), City Lodge Hotels, SLOW, Airlink, GIBS Business School (Gordon Institute of Business Science), ByDesign South Africa, Daily Maverick, SME.Tax, GAS Accounting, Pure Foods, and Nomia, we’ve made this experience unforgettable for our #Top35Alumni. Together, we’re shaping a brighter future for SA's youth. Learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/4f13BZb #SayYES. Join the future of change. #YESAlumni #EmpoweringYouth #TheFutureOfChange

Automotive industry drives youth employment 🚗. As South Africa's automotive sector hits its 100-year milestone, we’re proud to honour our partners Mercedes-Benz South Africa, BMW South Africa, Toyota Motor Corporation, Volkswagen Group, ISUZU Motors South Africa, and Ford Motor Company for their commitment to the YES programme. “Given the sector’s role in our economy, they are essential partners in the fight against unemployment,” says YES's, Samantha Steyn, CFA. YES, together with these automotive giants, have created 23,881+ youth jobs; notably, 15,414 were created by NAAMSA members. As the sector shifts to a greener, tech-driven future, YES is proud to be part of this transformation, empowering young people with work experience and driving inclusive economic growth. More here: https://bit.ly/3BLSggO. #SayYES. Join the future of change. Here's how: https://bit.ly/3WUJWSs. #Business #Innovation #AutomotiveSector naamsa | The Automotive Business Council