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South Africa’s youth unemployment rate is at a staggering 63,9% for those aged 15 – 24. Given the large scale of inequality and poverty, there’s a lot of work to be done to prepare this generation for active participation in the economy.
This Youth Month, FoodForward SA (FFSA) is doing just that. Through its SETA-accredited supply chain internship, FFSA is training young people with the skills they need to thrive. The six-month programme consists of both practical and academic training, with a focus on warehousing, stock management, and logistics.
“Our cohort of interns for 2022 started in May at our Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Rustenburg branches,” says FFSA Managing Director, Andy Du Plessis. “By the end of the programme, our aim is for every one of our interns who successfully completed the course, to be employed.”
By supporting and empowering young people through skills development and training, FFSA is trying to remove two huge barriers to entry for underprivileged youth: employment and endemic poverty.
“While our core business is addressing widespread food insecurity, providing unemployed youth with the skills that will help them end poverty, I have no doubt that we will see a positive change on their families and their communities too,” adds Du Plessis. “Our vision is that this internship will ensure that under-served communities are strengthened, so that they can access healthier and more nutritious food.”
A staggering 40% of South Africans go to bed hungry. That’s two in every five people. And yet, more than 10 million tons of good quality, edible surplus food is lost or wasted every year – this accounts for nearly one-third of all food produced in the country.
To address food insecurity, while saving the environment, FoodForward SA implements a cost-effective and sustainable model called Foodbanking – which involves the recovery of good quality, edible surplus food from farmers, retailers, and manufacturers, to provide vulnerable people with better access to wholesome meals. The organisation provides nutritious food each month to nearly 2,500 registered beneficiary organisations that reach more than 875,000 people in disadvantaged communities across the country every day.
Du Plessis says, ” Our network of beneficiary organisations undertake crucial work in under-served communities, and around 75% of these organisations work focusses on education, skills development, vulnerable children, youth, and women.”
“We have an important responsibility to ensure that people that can’t afford healthy food are nourished, which is why we’ve developed this food distribution model,” says Du Plessis. “By correctly managing the timeous interception of surplus food from farmers, manufacturers and retailers, we can ensure everyone has the nutrients they need to be healthy, and lead productive lives.”