Youth agency Livity Africa has partnered with the Interactive Advertising Bureau of SA and Google SA to launch a three-month digital skills training programme for Johannesburg youth.
The "digital boot camp" - also dubbed Digify - starts later this month and aims to train people between the ages of 18 to 25 on digital campaigns, social media skills and content creation, as well as Google modules including Search, Ad Words, YouTube and Analytics.
Gavin Weale, MD of Livity Africa, says the programme aims to address SA's digital skills shortage "by creating a consistent pipeline of capable and employable young talent into brands and agencies".
"We are calling on agencies and brands to get involved with the programme by taking part in the Digify workshops, providing real-life briefs or by offering internships or junior roles to Digify graduates," he adds.
According to Statistics SA's Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the country's unemployment rate for people aged 15 to 64 decreased to 24.1% in the fourth quarter, compared to 24.5% in the third quarter.
The national youth unemployment rate from the 2011 census stood at 48.9%, while 34.04% of Gauteng's youth did not have jobs, according to the data.
Hands-on approach
According to Livity Africa, professional skills coaching will also be offered to Digify trainees to ensure they are "job-smart and work-ready".
"Trainees will have access to further support during their first eight weeks of employment, should they need to overcome any issues they may encounter during their integration into the formal workplace," says the agency in a statement.
Agencies or brands looking to take part in the boot camp can contact Thato Noinyane, at Livity Africa.
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