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[QUOTE="Queen, post: 86224, member: 27"]
A corporate hiring move just shoved real jobs into a brutal youth unemployment mess, betting that paid experience beats speeches every time.

YES intake and intent
[LIST]
[*]Mastercard brought in a new YES youth intake.
[*]The effort ties into the national YES drive.
[*]The aim centers on future-ready skills, not token placements.
[*]South Africa’s talent pipeline gets a practical nudge.
[/LIST]
What the youth actually do
[LIST]
[*]Participants plug directly into internal teams.
[*]Each person tackles meaningful digital-era assignments.
[*]Mentors guide them through real workplace pressure.
[*]The stint runs long enough to build confidence.
[/LIST]
Why this matters economically
[LIST]
[*]Youth joblessness for ages 15 to 24 hit 58.5%.
[*]That figure landed during Q3 2025.
[*]The gap between schooling and work stays wide.
[*]Programs like this try to narrow it with action.
[/LIST]
Cohort size and structure
[LIST]
[*]Fifteen candidates landed spots in the 2025 - 2026 cycle.
[*]They rotate through training and applied learning.
[*]Networks grow alongside technical and soft skills.
[*]Early career footing becomes less shaky.
[/LIST]
Voices behind the program
[LIST]
[*]Gabriel Swanepoel framed youth development as economic insurance.
[*]He stressed workforce access over abstract promises.
[*]Ravi Naidoo backed hands-on guidance as the unlock.
[*]Alumni like Nishalia Pillay credit the program for career momentum.
[/LIST]
[/QUOTE]

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