Youth Skills Development Programme
To address this, our Youth Skills Development (YSD) programme was launched in June 2014 and began gaining momentum in mid-2015 when we moved into our own premises in Sybrand Park, Athlone. The programme’s primary goal is to empower NEET youth (those not in Education, Employment, or Training) and school-leavers aged 18–35 to become economically active, skilled, and contributing members of society.
Vision
Mission
Our YSD Programme in a Nutshell
The Youth Skills Development (YSD) Programme is a comprehensive 3-month course designed to equip young people with practical, vocational, and soft skills. It combines hands-on training in chosen disciplines with job-readiness and life skills workshops, followed by experiential learning opportunities and linkages to industry partners. Current disciplines:
Vocational/practical
- Hospitality (Culinary & Front of House)
- Sewing & Design
- Beauty
- Handyman/Technical skills
Other
- Soft/Human Skills (incl basic intro to p/c’s – to be rolled out in 2025)
- Life Skills
- Entrepreneurship & Enterprise development
- Alumni programme
Soft Skills Training
Our Soft Skills programme includes:
- Orientation Week – “An Introduction to the World of Work & Entrepreneurship”: A 4-day signature workshop where we work closely with learners to help them discover their passion and identify their potential.
- One-Day Soft Skills Workshops: Cover workplace etiquette, CV compilation, interview skills, pre-workplace induction (communication, behaviour, industry introduction), customer service, personal finances, and conversational English.
Life Skills
The Life Skills component focuses on the holistic development of the individual through 12 modules presented over 3 x 1-day sessions. Key areas include:
- Self-awareness & Confidence
- Social Responsibility
- Resilience
Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development
Entrepreneurship training includes:
- Basic and intermediate business training
- Incubation, coaching, and mentorship
- Access to markets
Alumni Programme
The Alumni Programme offers ongoing support and growth opportunities, including:
- In-house volunteer programmes at the Amy Foundation
- Career, business, or study linkages through job-shadowing, internships, learnerships, employment, and market access
- Accredited courses and qualifications through our development partners for identified individuals
- Continuous coaching and mentoring
Outcomes Sought
The YSD Programme aims to:
- Develop economically active youth – employed, studying, or running small businesses
- Produce contributing citizens to society
Create success stories for the Amy - Foundation, learners, and development partners
Hospitality
In Amy’s teaching kitchen & bistro, our Chefs Tracey & Paul supported by Don and Val, work their magic and up-skill our Learners in
basic kitchen, culinary, coffee, front-of-house, home industries and general hospitality skills, in an endeavour to link them up with
entry-level hospitality or retail jobs, or to start their own small home or street-food venture.
Sewing & Design
Under the competent & creative guidance of Mary & Ncumisa and their dedicated volunteers, our Sewing & Design Learners are
taught sewing & other creative skills, encouraged to explore their creativity and to produce quality products for retail. In so doing,
they can create their own small businesses and also become producers for Amy’s shop, as well as pursue employment opportunities
in a creative environment.
Beauty
Under the strict supervision of Roxy Marosa and our qualified Cosmotologist Astrid Swarts, our Beauty trainees are developed and empowered with sufficient knowledge and skills to equip them to become a part of the Beauty industry, be it by way of employment opportunities at entry-level, or to start their own small beauty businesses.
Handyman/Technical Skills
Under the patient guidance of Vincent Domancie, our learners are taught basic technical skills (e.g basic plumbing, tiling,
woodwork, general building maintenance etc.), sufficient to link them up with opportunities in the maintenance divisions of the
Hospitality industry, fibre-glass & manufacturing industries, retail employment opportunities, as well as starting their own small
businesses
Business Skills/Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development
For those learners who display an interest in business during their 3month practical courses, we offer business training, coaching,
incubation, mentorship, as well as access to markets wherever possible. We endeavor to source mentors for them and also partner
with other business development organizations.
Soft Skills & Life Skills
All our learners are required to attend various soft skills workshops (e.g Workplace Etiquette, C/V Prep & Compilation, Job Interview
Skills, Introduction to the World of Work & Entrepreneurship), as well as Life Skills. Our soft skills workshops are designed to groom
our Learners for the world of work and entrepreneurship, whilst our Life Skills sessions addresses the emotional, social and cognitive
development & well-being of the individual.
Off - Site, Internships, Learnerships & Employment
Through exciting Development partners of the Amy Foundation, our Learners are exposed to valuable experiential learning
opportunities, in order to gain experience & confidence in the workplace and ultimately employment. With tangible outcomes, our
learners find themselves with newfound skills, increased confidence, certificates & references, an enhanced c/v and sound
employment opportunities with our various Development partners and others.
Special Events
Throughout the year, our Learners are exposed to and partake in, various events & activities such as our “Mandela month” pop-up
markets, tourism events, tour lunches and various other activities with our Development partners & supporters of the Amy Foundation.
