The Mandela Bay Development Agency in partnership with the The Hope Factory South Africa completed an 18-month business entrepreneurial programme in Kariega in December 2023.
MBDA Corporate Services Executive, Luvuyo Bangazi said,
Workshops were held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre, a facility operated by the MBDA. The two organisations ran a parallel, new programme focusing on youth community development with a focus on job readiness. The Hope Factory attributes this unique pilot program, which is a first of its kind for the organisation, to the work done by the MBDA around youth work and individual self-development. This programme concluded on January 12, 2024 with a certification handover with 90% completion.
Some feedback from one participant said, “The workshops were fun but rewarding. It felt like therapy. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I am happy to work in a good environment.” Owing to networks and linkage, the YES Programme has placed the majority of the participants in jobs around Nelson Mandela Bay, which is inclusive of the Hope Factory and various schools for the next 12 months.
