A new youth development programme within the tourism sector has been launched to support youths from marginalised communities in the Bergrivier area.
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The Bergrivier Tourism Organisation’s (BTO) initiative aims to provide local youths with the skills and knowledge needed to boost their employability in the tourism sector. In addition, the programme will also focus on personal growth and development.
‘We decided to launch this initiative because tourism is at the forefront of our area’s economic growth,’ says Nomonde Ndlangisa, CEO of Bergrivier Tourism. ‘However, presently, a significant portion of the rural population in the Bergrivier grapples with poverty, limited skills, and a perception that tourism primarily benefits the affluent.’
Ndlangisa says the youth are particularly affected as they lack the necessary skills to participate in the tourism sector. ‘Consequently, this predicament results in alarmingly high unemployment rates amongst this age group and, regrettably, school dropout rates are also on the rise. Furthermore, the absence of local higher education institutions providing post-matric tourism training compounds these challenges.’
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The youth development programme will target 20 unemployed youth during the first year and focus on various areas of education and development.
These include:
- Life skills and personal development
- Skills development
- Entrepreneurship training
- Mentorship and coaching
- Community involvement
- Career counselling and job placement
- Networking and exposure
- Each participant will undergo a needs analysis to determine which areas need the most attention and then targeted, customised interventions will be made available to all individuals.
‘To ensure the sustained success of tourism in our area, our focus lies on responsible destination marketing, a strategy that not only showcases the region’s attractions but also prioritises the protection of the environment and the well-being of our local communities,’ says Ndlangisa.
‘For responsible tourism to achieve genuine success, it must directly benefit local communities.’
The programme will kick off in January 2024.
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Picture: Desola Lanre-Ologun / Unsplash