Absa today announced the launch in South Africa of ‘ReadytoWork,’ an employability initiative that helps to train and equip young people for the world of work.

This follows the successful roll-out of the initiative in six of the countries in which Barclays Africa operates – Zambia, Seychelles, Botswana, Kenya, Mauritius and Zimbabwe, and after receiving support from the MEC of Education in Gauteng the curriculum is now available in some schools across the province, with further schools to follow in Limpopo and Free State.

ReadytoWork is a free training curriculum that seeks to empower young people with the training and skills they need to enhance their employability and entrepreneurial prospects. It provides access to world class learning content, focused on work, people, money and entrepreneurial skills, through online content, face-to-face training and work exposure.

One of the key focus areas for Barclays Africa is Education and Skills Development, primarily to help the next generation get the skills and opportunities they need to transition into work or entrepreneurship.

Sazini Mojapelo, Barclays Africa head of Citizenship says: “A key priority of our Citizenship strategy is to help young people gain access to the skills and opportunities they need to unlock their potential. We have identified education and skills development as a space in which it can make a sustainable contribution through initiatives such as ReadytoWork. Our launch here comes at an opportune time, helping young people across the country who have completed their exams to prepare for the next phase in their lives - the world of work.”

In South Africa, more than 30%  of young people are unemployed and under-employed, highlighting how critical it is that young people are provided with the practical skills they need to successfully make the critical transition from education to the world of work.

ReadytoWork aims to support job seekers and entrepreneurs who have the aptitude, attitude, and ambition to achieve beyond the opportunities that have been given to them. The ultimate goal is to give young people a choice to either better develop their employability prospects or to become self-employed through starting their own businesses.

For more information on ReadytoWork, visit: www.absa.co.za/readytowork.