In October, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, a non-profit social enterprise working to curb youth unemployment, hosted the Solutions Exchange Conference – an event that brings government and industry together to solve the youth unemployment crises facing South Africa.
The Conference provided QASA with the opportunity to advocate for youth with disabilities, learn from the experience of other industries, and build relationships that can benefit our members. The event included several speakers, a panel discussion and even an address by the Deputy President of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, and the Minister of Employment and Labour, Thulas Nxesi.
Tyme Bank spoke of its programmes training matriculants to become sales consultants, Nedbank discussed its YES programme and SA Ink highlighted the need for better skills development among youth – particularly in the IT sector.
QASA recruitment officer, Dhaneshree Naidoo, who attended the event said: “Harambee arranges this event annually to encourage their partners to collaborate and network. It was such a wonderful experience, hearing people’s debates, frustrations on the high unemployment rate in South Africa and what changes should and could be made if everyone works together and if all sectors work hand in hand.”