Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Initiatives: Skills Development, Learnerships and Employment Opportunities for South African Youth

Young South Africans looking for skills development, career guidance, entrepreneurship support and employment opportunities can explore the youth empowerment initiatives supported by Momentum Group Foundation.

Through its corporate social investment (CSI) strategy, Momentum Group Foundation partners with nonprofit organisations and training providers to help young people gain practical skills, improve their employability and access sustainable income-generating opportunities.

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The initiative focuses on helping young people move from training into employment, entrepreneurship and long-term career development. Rather than concentrating only on classroom education, the foundation supports programmes that combine technical training, personal development, workplace preparation and job placement.

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For unemployed youth, school leavers and aspiring entrepreneurs, these initiatives are worth exploring when searching for pathways into the workplace.

Official website: Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Initiatives

1. About Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Initiatives

Momentum Group Foundation was established as an independent nonprofit company to coordinate the group's corporate social investment activities and support initiatives that benefit communities.

One of its key priorities is addressing youth unemployment in South Africa. The foundation works with organisations that provide training, career development, entrepreneurship support and access to employment opportunities.

Its youth empowerment strategy aims to create a clear pathway from recruitment and training to job placement or self-employment. The approach also recognises the importance of personal development, psychosocial support and mentoring in helping young people succeed.

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2. Who Can Benefit from the Youth Empowerment Programmes?

Momentum Group Foundation's youth employment funding criteria prioritise young people aged 16 to 25.

The foundation supports selected programmes and nonprofit partners that provide accredited training, respond to community needs and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable employment or income generation.

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Potential beneficiaries may include:

• Unemployed young people seeking entry-level employment.

• Young people who need technical or digital skills.

• School leavers exploring career options.

• Individuals interested in vocational and artisan occupations.

• Young people who want to establish or grow businesses.

• Women seeking opportunities in technology and entrepreneurship.

Important: These are the foundation's broad funding priorities, not a guarantee that every young person can apply directly to Momentum Group. Eligibility depends on the specific partner programme and its current intake requirements.

3. Skills Development and Training Opportunities

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Momentum Group Foundation supports several partner organisations that offer different types of training. These opportunities cover digital technology, vocational occupations, business development and entrepreneurship.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

The foundation supports digital skills development because technology skills can help young people access employment opportunities in the modern economy.

Training areas offered through its partners include:

• Coding and software development.

• Cybersecurity.

• Data science and data engineering.

• Digital and technology-related skills.

• Personal development and workplace readiness.

The foundation's partners include Life Choices Coding Academy, WeThinkCode_, Deviare and Explore AI Academy. Their programmes have different admission requirements and application processes.

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Vocational and Artisan Skills

Young people who prefer practical, hands-on training can explore opportunities through vocational skills development partners.

Ubuntu Pathways' Jobs Skills Training Programme follows a market-driven approach, training young people in different trades according to employment demand.

The National Business Initiative's IRM Initiative works with TVET colleges to connect skills development with on-the-job training and employment pathways. Its programme information identifies Gert Sibande TVET College in Mpumalanga as a participating institution.

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Entrepreneurship and Business Development

Momentum Group Foundation also supports initiatives designed to help young people establish businesses and generate their own income.

These initiatives recognise that entrepreneurship can provide an alternative route to economic participation for people who may struggle to secure formal employment.

Support through selected partners may include business development, access to sales opportunities, funding resources, agricultural entrepreneurship and business mentoring.

4. Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Partners

The foundation works with various organisations that provide specialist training and employment support.

1. Life Choices Coding Academy

Offers young people from the Cape Flats and surrounding areas an opportunity to learn coding while developing personal and professional skills. Its programme has included a 12-month boot camp combining training and internship experience.

Explore: Life Choices

2. Ubuntu Pathways

Its Jobs Skills Training Programme provides vocational training aligned with market demand and has served young people in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

Explore: Ubuntu Pathways

3. WeThinkCode_

Focuses on developing coding talent and preparing young people for opportunities in the digital economy.

Explore: WeThinkCode_

4. Agri Enterprises

Supports agricultural entrepreneurship, including initiatives designed to help women develop farming businesses and strengthen their participation in the agricultural value chain.

Explore: Agri Enterprises

5. My Dough

Provides a platform intended to help youth-owned enterprises access sales opportunities, funding and other business growth resources.

Explore: My Dough

6. Deviare

Its featured initiative focuses on cybersecurity training for young Black women, incorporating online learning, virtual classes, assessments, work-readiness preparation and job placement.

Explore: Deviare Africa

7. Explore AI Academy

Provides specialised training in data science and engineering aimed at developing scarce and critical technology skills.

Explore: Explore AI

8. Faith Mangope Technology and Leadership Institute

Focuses on helping African youth, particularly women, develop technology and leadership capabilities relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Explore: LinkedIn for the institute's official presence and programme announcements.

These organisations and programme descriptions are drawn from Momentum Group Foundation's published youth empowerment information and its 2023/24 CSI report. Partnerships and programme availability can change over time.

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5. Are There Learnerships Available at Momentum Group?

Momentum Group Foundation supports youth employment programmes that may include learnerships, accredited training, internships and other structured routes into employment.

However, the youth empowerment initiative is not a single learnership with one application form. Many opportunities are delivered through partner organisations, each with its own eligibility criteria and recruitment process.

Young people should therefore:

1. Identify the training partner that offers the programme they want.

2. Visit that partner's official website.

3. Check whether applications are open.

4. Review the age, qualification and other entry requirements.

5. Follow the partner's official application procedure.

You can also explore Momentum's own careers page for vacancies, bursaries and graduate opportunities.

Explore Momentum careers, bursaries and graduate programmes

Participation in a foundation-supported programme does not automatically guarantee employment at Momentum Group or another employer.

6. How to Apply for Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Opportunities

7. Does Momentum Group Offer Stipends or Funding?

Funding arrangements depend on the particular programme and delivery partner. The youth empowerment page describes the foundation's funding priorities and partnerships; it does not advertise one universal stipend or payment for all participants.

Before accepting a training opportunity, confirm:

• Whether training is free or fee-paying.

• Whether a monthly stipend is provided.

• Whether learning materials and transport are covered.

• The duration of the programme.

• Whether workplace experience is included.

• Whether job placement or business mentoring is available.

Applicants should rely on the specific programme advertisement for these details rather than assume that every initiative provides a stipend.

8. Results and Impact of the Youth Empowerment Initiative

Momentum Group Foundation's 2023/24 Corporate Social Investment Report provides an indication of the work undertaken through its youth employment and entrepreneurship portfolio.

Figures reported for the 2023/24 financial year; they are historical results, not current application numbers.

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These results illustrate the foundation's emphasis on linking skills development with employment and entrepreneurship rather than focusing solely on training completion.

9. Contact and Official Information

Momentum Group's youth empowerment webpage is the best starting point for identifying supported partners and understanding the foundation's funding priorities.

Conclusion

Momentum Group Youth Empowerment Initiatives provide support for programmes that help South African young people develop digital, vocational and entrepreneurial skills. Through its foundation and nonprofit partners, Momentum Group aims to improve work readiness, expand access to training and connect young people with employment or income-generating opportunities.

Young people interested in coding, cybersecurity, data science, vocational occupations or entrepreneurship should explore the relevant partner organisations and confirm whether applications are currently open.

Start here: Visit Momentum Group's official Youth Empowerment page to explore the initiatives, partner organisations and potential pathways into training and employment.