{
  "id": 2385254,
  "title": "Volunteering may be the key to creating opportunities for young South Africans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/volunteering-may-be-the-key-to-creating-opportunities-for-young-south",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T14:12:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-08-21-volunteering-may-be-the-key-to-creating-opportunities-for-young-south-africans/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Africa faces a significant challenge with youth unemployment, as nearly half of young people between the ages of 15 and 34 cannot find employment. The country's young population, which makes up just over a third of the nation's total population, is at risk of being left behind if this issue is not addressed. Despite the presence of many talented individuals and organizations investing in youth development, there is a lack of pathways that connect young people's potential to real job opportunities.\n\nCorporate volunteerism could be one solution to this problem. When designed with intention and linked to skills development, mentorship, and networking, volunteering can provide young South Africans with valuable skills, experiences, and connections needed to enter the workforce. Mentorship is particularly effective in developing problem-solving and creative thinking abilities, preparing young people for the workplace, and improving their readiness for employment. Additionally, volunteering can foster a sense of belonging and connection to opportunities that may otherwise seem unattainable.\n\nSeveral initiatives are already working to address youth unemployment through volunteering. The International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), in partnership with IBM, has introduced the Reskilling Revolution Africa program, which has engaged over 30,000 young people across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa. The program has resulted in more than 153,000 hours of volunteering and more than 2,000 internationally recognized digital credentials earned. Another success story is the Zlto platform, co-founded by Allan van der Meulen, which has more than one million users and has tracked more than 2.5 million hours of community service, distributing over R3-million in rewards to volunteers. These examples demonstrate the potential for volunteering to create meaningful economic opportunities for young South Africans.",
  "summary": "In a country with a shortage of pathways for young South Africans to find employment, corporate volunteerism could provide the necessary skills development, mentorship and networks needed.",
  "key_points": [
    "Nearly half of South African youth aged 15-34 are unemployed.",
    "Corporate volunteerism can provide skills, experiences, and connections.",
    "Reskilling Revolution Africa engaged 30,000+ young people in Africa."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}