By-line Poseletso Chiloane

The youth have been urged to apply for the National Youth Service (NYS) to gain work experience and training to be ready for the workplace. The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), working under the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention Program, has announced the opening for applications for 20 000 paid service opportunities through the second phase of the National Youth Service (NYS).

Up until today the NYS program has delivered 47 234 service opportunities to South African youth in the 2022/23 financial year, and 7 546 young hopefuls exited the programme to go on to long-term prospects. This is the largest-scale youth service programme implemented in South Africa’s democratic history and is one of the largest service programmes globally.

“I am grateful for the opportunity I have been given and promise to use it well” said Billy Phokane who is a part of the programme telling South African Rainbow News of the impact of the programme in his life.

Asanda Luwaca, the Executive Chairperson of the NYDA, commented on the importance of the programme. “The National Youth Service is a brilliant initiative set out by the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention. Our youth are struggling to find sustainable jobs and often find themselves going down the wrong path. With the NYS, we’re asking youth to come as they are, and let us work together to build their future.”

The primary aim of the NYS is to mobilize the youth to become active citizens of the country while earning a monthly stipend and increasing their employability. Unfortunately, those who were enrolled in the first phase of the NYS will not be eligible to apply for this 2023/24 cohort.

Here, they will be engaged in service activities, which sharpen their skills, increase their employability status, and uplift their communities. Through the NYS, the youth have gained access to a network of mentorship opportunities, employer matching services, work readiness programmes, and economic activity networks. Applying to the NYS those looking to apply can visit the SAYouthmobi site on https://sayouth.mobi/Home/Index/EN, and once registered, they can search for ‘NYS’ and follow the instructions on the jobs section.