In his Youth Day speech at Mthatha Stadium in the Eastern Cape on 16 June, President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that youth are the driving force of a country and growing its economy.
Not only that, but young people are a source of change and new ideas with strength and talent.
He acknowledged the government’s commitment to put youth at the center of the national recovery plan, given the county’s 64% unemployment rate.
In his speech, President Ramaphosa said, “The sole focus of this administration is to make sure that young people are given the opportunity to improve themselves, that they can bring change to their communities, and that they contribute to our economy.”
However, it has become clear that in order to have real change, the private sector needs to unite and collaborate with industries to not only benefit young people but ensure a talented workforce in the future.
One such partnership is the ‘Next generation‘program, a ServiceNow initiative with Quintica South Africa as its partner on the occasion that aims to address the skills gap in the information technology (IT) sector by giving young people the opportunity to practice, retrain and practice upskill through its program with the goal of recruiting local talent.
The ‘Next generationThe ‘program is a global program that has existed for several years, but in 2022 saw the first group of African intakes. Of those who have completed the program, all have been able to be promoted, find work, or at the very least are now equipped with high -demand skills – making them more “marketable” for recruiters and corporate recruits.
Quintica, a partner at ServiceNow Elite, helps companies unlock the platform by creating service experiences that drive customer loyalty and productivity across the company, advancing their digital journey.
The ServiceNow Platform helps large businesses run more efficiently-automating processes-by creating workflows for any part of the organization, from legal to procurement, customer service to onboarding. employees and even in IT departments.
When applications opened to the program, there were more than 300 African applicants and after a rigorous selection process, only five individuals were selected to participate in the program.
Zimkhita Buwa, CEO and board member at Quintica South Africa, said “We are proud to be the first South African team, each with different backgrounds but shared experiences. These graduates have been placed who are now at their best to improve their futures and the future of those around them who depend on them for financial support.The opportunities to pursue their careers are now set on course by those they have met and cherished talents.
All five participants graduated from the program and began their respective new journeys by addressing their personal skills deficiencies.
What President Ramaphosa said about youth that is particularly noteworthy, is that “Young people are resilient and do not give up, even when it is difficult.”
‘NextGen’ graduates have become great examples of resilience and resilience.
According to Buwa, “We had a wide range of participants. Some have work experience, some are unemployed or have retrenched and some just need upskilling. The NextGen program aims to change the lives of these graduates by providing them with the skills they need to empower themselves and their future careers.
For Thulani Mhlwana, an IT and Computer Science graduate from Ekurhuleni, joining Quintica as an intern, gave her the opportunity to participate in the ServiceNow NextGen program – an opportunity she never thought possible after being retrenched and without work. Graduating from the program allows him to be part of a global platform that can take him anywhere in the world.
“Quintica is for me. Everyone welcomes you with a smile and open arms. I see a bright future ahead. ”
“It’s not just on-the-job learning for me, it’s about personal, work and career development. I removed myself from my comfort zone and accepted opportunities with real business and a wider impact on the industry. ”
Puseletso Nofemele worked nightshifts in a call center to pay for textbooks to study IT and Finance and this is an example of what many South Africans have to endure to get a job in the difficult job market.
With such dedication and perseverance, Puseletso is now able to apply the skills learned through the NextGen program and work towards a successful IT career.
South Africa was reported to have the highest share of female graduates in Sub-Saharan Africa at 32%, and more female ICT graduates, at 38%.
This shows that concerted efforts are being made to narrow the gender gap in STEM education.
Not surprisingly, then, that three out of five African participants were female.
Like many other companies, ServiceNow is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion.
Muhammed Omar, country manager, Africa, ServiceNow, commented on ServiceNow’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, “Our mission is to create unlimited opportunities for training and employment for populations that traditionally marginalized from the field of technology – populations such as Africa.Our goal is to grow and develop the next generation of leaders by closing the gap in technical skills and ensuring that all communities have access in technology education. ”
Like Quintica’s tagline, ‘Big Things, Great People’, the ServiceNow NextGen program is focused on growing the talent pool of ServiceNow -trained professionals – making the world of work better for everyone.
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