Employment is one of SA4D's focus areas. Globally, young people lack prospects and face the highest unemployment rates. Creating opportunities for them to earn a decent living is crucial to ensure a sustainable future for themselves and their communities. All SA4D projects follow a holistic approach, integrating multiple focus areas to deliver comprehensive, effective, and lasting solutions.

“We have been well trained, the work experience was also very helpful. I have learned a lot that will help me, because I am planning to open my own workshop and will train other people too.”

Oliver, a teenage girl from Uganda aspiring to become a tailor. In addition to acquiring technical skills in tailoring, she also took part in sport and play-based employability and entrepreneurship sessions and completed an internship with a local business.

What is SA4D doing?

SA4D is committed to supporting young adults in finding decent employment. SA4D promotes vocational training for participants to acquire technical skills that meet labour market demands, while also strengthening their life skills such as teamwork, leadership and problem-solving to increase their job readiness and resilience to face the challenges of the world of work. In addition, participants can learn entrepreneurial skills and knowledge and benefit from support to pursue self-employment and establish micro enterprises. By creating their own businesses, they not only sustain themselves but also generate jobs for others.

How is SA4D doing this?

SA4D promotes the use of sport and play as an innovative method to deliver engaging and effective training. In collaboration with our implementing partners, we design vocational and entrepreneurial training programmes tailored to the participants’ needs and context, develop curricula and teaching materials and train trainers to implement these programmes using sport and play.

Here’s an example activity: Fill the Bucket Race

Depending on the needs, SA4D provides complementary support such as apprenticeships, mentoring, professional networks, assistance with business plan development, or start-up capital. These measures enhance project participant’s chances of entering the labour market. SA4D projects are holistic in nature, covering multiple focus areas to create more thorough and lasting solutions. If possible, SA4D places particular emphasis on green entrepreneurship, encouraging young entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business ideas that optimise resource use and transform environmental challenges into profitable opportunities.

Why is SA4D doing this?

One in five young people worldwide is not in employment, education or training (NEET). Many of those who have an occupation endure inadequate or even dangerous working conditions, predominantly in the informal sector or low-skill jobs. Women and people from marginalised groups face additional barriers and discrimination and often find themselves in precarious positions. Furthermore, a mismatch between the skills and competences taught in education systems and those required by the labour market, leaves many ill-prepared for the workforce. This transitionary phase of life can be difficult for young people, and without proper support, they risk losing confidence in their abilities, be discouraged or frustrated, which in turn can push them towards harmful behaviours such as substance abuse, criminality or violence and make them prone to illness and exclusion.