Abstract
While governments and the private sector appear in literature on youth unemployment responses, there is limited research on the role that the civil society sector, and specifically community-based organisations (CBOs) play in addressing this issue. Although CBOs appear to provide intermediation programs between unemployed youth and employers in formal or direct Youth Employment Programs (YEPs), there is still limited literature on other CBO programmes which are not formal YEPs. Exploring such CBO programmes and services and how they indirectly contribute to addressing youth unemployment may provide a profound understanding of a critical role player in youth transitions to employment. The study aim is to explore how local level CBOs operating in Tembisa facilitate youth employment transitions, with a primary focus on the indirect role that CBOs play. The study adopted a qualitative approach in which key methods encompassed conducting thirteen (13) semi structured interviews and network maps created with the leaders or employees of CBOs. Data was analysed according to emerging themes. Ethical considerations included informed consent and confidentiality of participants. The findings show that CBO programmes offer key resources or assets such as access to information, ICT facilities, work experience, career development planning and skills development programmes. From the perspective of the research participants, these all play a crucial role in the long- and short-term employment transitions of youth. The findings suggest a need for employing or developing an ecosystem for youth employment transitions by directing investments towards long- and short-term youth transitions through CBOs.
M.A. (Social Policy and Development (M7068Q))