Youth Dreams: Education and Income. Here are a few tips for enthusiastic youth who want to qualify but may not have the funds. If you’re still in school, use this advice to reach your dreams.
Are Qualifications Important?
They are, but so is attitude! Don’t let money stand in your way.
FLIP THE PROBLEM
Planning your future is scary when the options seem few or very mysterious!
Youth shouldn’t have to worry about their future prospects and where the money will come from to get them started correctly. Money, let’s face it, is hard to get.
No Money To Study?
Bursaries and scholarships can help you enter a TVET college if you meet their means test. Choose your subject packages carefully in Grade 10, but no matter what you choose, be prepared to get your marks as high as possible.
Contact your ward Councillor (the person elected by the community to represent them).
If you are in Grade 10, ask if you can be an intern during your holidays. You want to build a relationship with them.
Adults love youth who admire them, so charm them so they help you fulfil your dreams. 🙂
Don’t contact them simply to ask if they have bursaries. They probably won’t! But if you get a relationship started in G10, by the time you’re in G12, you’ll have given them a million reasons to want to assist you.
Councillors have access to businesses, NGOs and many people who would be willing to help someone referred by them.
If you have parents employed by large companies, research these firms and check on their CSI programmes.
(CSI: Corporate Social Investment)
Request a meeting with the person in charge. Ask to be their intern, show your latest report, and ask the CSI manager to be your mentor. Remember you are there to start building a relationship with an adult who can hopefully help you on the journey towards your dreams.
If you are in Grade 12, follow the same advice and quickly establish relationships with adults who could help you.
Learn and Earn
Learnerships and Apprenticeships are study opportunities for those who are interested in occupational (job/sector-specific) qualifications.
Youth have many options to find Learnerships
- Find private or public TVET colleges that offer learnerships and apprenticeships in the fields you’re interested in.
- Learnerships and apprenticeships are coordinated by SETAs. Check their websites and follow the SETAs that represent the industries you are interested in. Find them on social media.
- Search for learnerships on the internet and explore different platforms where employers advertise.
SETAs accredit training providers to offer these qualifications in partnership with businesses. These businesses receive BEE Points and tax rebates for offering these opportunities but they often exploit the youth and pay them extremely badly.
Youth are advised to complete learnerships and apprenticeships at private colleges that can provide both training and work experience. It’s better to earn low or even nothing to be at a college, rather than exploited at a business.
