Emerge, Powering Enterprises targets young people in South Africa. As a big part of South Africa, young people are at the heart of the country. Youth between the ages of 15 and 35 years constitute about 66% per cent of the total population (StatSA, Mid-year population estimate, 2015).
South Africa’s youth, however faces significant challenges such as high unemployment rates, high HIV infection rates, and limited access to further education and training. The prolonged socio-economic effects of youth unemployment do not only hamper economic growth, but also increases crime, poverty, and the risk for political instability. Low levels of economic opportunity are one of the factors that increases the vulnerability of youth, particularly adolescent girls and young women, to risky sexual behavior, alcohol and substance abuse, and HIV infection. Girls and young women further risk increased exposure to gender-based violence.
Emerge targets the youth for social and economic transformation. We nurture and develop entrepreneurship-, business- and job opportunities through a comprehensive programme that strengthens the resilience and capacity of young people, their businesses and their communities, while creating value for business through the B-BBEE codes specifically relating to Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD), Skills Development (SD), and Socio-Economic Development (SED). The implementation partner of Emerge is Heartbeat, a not for profit company with a presence in communities nationally and 17 years of experience in community and youth development. We offer SAQA accredited training and learnerships as well as business support and mentorship through technology solutions for young people cherry picked from the communities in which we operate to benefit from the programme. Emerge offers sustainable and sustained development and growth opportunities through our community facilities and work with multi-stakeholder partnerships to achieve local economic development and grow sustainable micro- and small businesses.