Donate
Donate

Donate

South Africa

Promoting and strengthening youth entrepreneurship

Many young people in South Africa struggle with poverty and health risks. With our partner organization Thandanani we offer them training to enable them to set up micro-enterprises and thus improve their future.

Voices on site

"I started small and sell homemade fries. The program has taught me a lot about finance and business and I am now developing my business step by step. One thing is for sure: if you really want to, this program can help you enormously. I am living proof that anything is possible."
Portrait Jugendlicher Projekt Südafrika - terre des hommes schweiz

Xolani Mndali
20 years

Background

Despite economic growth at a national level, profound social inequalities in South Africa mean that a largesof the population, especially young people, live in poverty and have no prospects of work or income. In our project region, many young adults are unemployed. These precarious conditions make not only their economic but also their social and health development considerably more difficult. health development. High HIV rates, violence and teenage pregnancies exacerbate the situation and further reduce the young people’s future prospects.

Project goals

The aim is to promote the participation of young people in local economic development and to improve their income situation in the long term.

Project activities

  • Income projects: We train young people with the skills they need for their income projects and support them in setting up and running their own businesses.
  • Health: We teach young people about their sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • Involve families: We support family members in guiding young people to develop micro-enterprises and help them access health services.
  • Community participation: We sensitize community members to promote youth enterprise and support young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights.
  • Collaboration with institutions: We work with institutions, including service providers, local leaders and businesses, to promote youth enterprise and personal development and health of young people.
Ein junger Mann in Südafrika zeigt seinen Shop, den er mit HIlfe von terre des hommes schweiz aufgebaut hat
Xolani Mndali is satisfied: “One thing is certain: if you really want to, this program can help you. I am living proof that it is possible.” Photo: Mawande Kheswa

Beneficiaries

Around 1,000 young people, 1,680 family and community members and 20 institutions are benefiting from our work in the current project phase.

Our partner organization

Thandanani works on topics such as Strengthening the Family, early childhood Promotion and youth development. The organization was founded in 1989. terre des hommes schweiz Supports Thandanani since 2022.

Project location and phase

The project is being implemented in the communities of Dambuza and Snathingsuburbs of Pietermaritzburg. The current project phase covers the years 2024-2026 with an annual budget of CHF 69 000.