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Making a difference, one bite at a time
Fasset, the sector education and training authority (Seta) for Finance, Accounting, Management Consulting and Other Financial Services, embraces the opportunity to make a difference.
“While some may be overwhelmed by the fact that there are around 2.5 million young South Africans aged between 18 to 24, who are not only unemployed, but unemployable because of very low skills levels, and an additional 200 000 unemployed graduates, with little prospect of finding employment, Fasset believes this situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity for government, labour, Setas, educational institutions, business, NGOs [non-governmental organisations] and even individuals, to make a difference,” says Fasset chief executive officer, Cheryl James.
She concedes that the challenge is huge, but says one must start somewhere. “Eating an elephant is also a huge challenge, but it is achievable, one bite at a time,” she observes.
Although Fasset is one of the smaller Setas, it has embraced the challenge of providing young South Africans with hope, and real prospects of creating a better life for themselves and their families through its skills upliftment initiatives.
“While learnerships are the traditional vehicle for empowering individuals, Fasset has more than doubled its impact through Fasset-funded Development Projects. Projects range from those that target learners at Grade 12 level, to those that target learners at postgraduate level,” James informs.
“Fasset has also pioneered projects which support unemployed graduates.”
The Seta has allocated over R345.2 million to these projects and more than 13 000 young South Africans have benefited.
Fasset has pioneered Work Readiness Programmes within the Seta environment.
“Recognising that graduates, even those from top universities, often struggle to find employment because they lack work experience and some of the softer skills that are a prerequisite for workplace success, Fasset has allocated a substantial portion of its discretionary funding to fund Work Readiness Programmes,” says James.
To date, Fasset has funded 3 130 unemployed graduates on the Bonani Work Readiness Programme and 1 020 unemployed graduates on the Thusanani Work Readiness Programme. More than 70% of candidates on these programmes have been placed in employment.
James says it is “criminal” to have so many unemployed graduates who have sacrificed a great deal to further their studies, but because they are unable to find employment, cannot break the chains of poverty; and when some are qualified in areas classified as scare and critical skills.
Without the Fasset-funded Bonani Work Readiness Programme, delivered by Guarantee Trust Corporate Support Services, Mzuvelile Magwanyana could very easily have become yet another unemployed graduate.
After completing his BCom Accounting degree through Walter Sisulu University, he wanted to sign up for the South African Institute of Professional Accountants articles.
After six months of looking for employment without any success, the prospect of joining the ranks of unemployed graduates was very real. Magwanyana’s luck changed when he was accepted onto the 2007 Bonani Work Readiness Programme.
“The training was awesome; it helped me to realise how possible it is to be successful and to be the person I want to be,” he recalls.
“We were prepared for the working environment. They prepared us not only to be able to do the work, but to work well with others. They did their best to ensure we discovered our strengths and our potential.”
On completion, Magwanyana was placed at Valentine Sargeant Blaauwberg, an audit and accounting firm in Table View, Cape Town.
“I believe the Bonani Work Readiness Programme contributed to my passing the job interview. I have just started at the Auditor-General, but I believe I will soon be one of the best trainees,” he confides.
James says Fasset has proved it is possible to make a difference in the lives of individuals, one learner at a time. “Imagine the difference we could make in addressing unemployment among the youth and unemployed graduates if more Setas, educational institutions, business, NGOs and even individuals, initiated Work Readiness Programmes.”
Visit www.fasset.org.za for more information.
