uMngeni Businesses Open Their Doors to Transform Local Youth’s Lives

Photo Credit: Supplied by Reinette Fritz (Love uMngeni)

When businesses invest a little time in mentoring young people, they help remove one of the greatest barriers facing unemployed youth: access to opportunity. Leading by example, 30 uMngeni businesses are helping unemployed youth gain hands-on work experience, with several participants already securing permanent employment.

uMngeni, South Africa (17 August 2026) – We so often hear about the high rate of unemployment in our country. It is a concerning reality we all know well, but also one that 30 local businesses in the greater community of uMngeni in KZN are actively working to shift and change with each new opportunity they create for young people.

Across the uMngeni region, local businesses are partnering with Love uMngeni Skills Development to give unemployed young people something many employers now demand, but few first-time job seekers can access: real workplace experience.

For more than a decade, Love uMngeni has been unlocking employment and enterprise opportunities by taking participants from low or no income into employment (on average 550 participants per year), self-employment and entrepreneurship.

Through an integrated pathway of personal development, accredited skills training, enterprise development, workplace experience and ongoing mentorship, the organisation has developed a proven track record of equipping people not just with qualifications, but with the confidence, character and practical skills needed to thrive in today’s economy.

Whether participants are preparing for employment through the Work Ready Programme, launching a small business through the Resellers or Business Development Programmes, or gaining vocational skills in Home-Based Care, Crop Production, Animal Production, Office Admin, IT, Hospitality, Retail, Beauty and Nail Technology, or the Barista Skills Programme, every programme is designed around one goal: creating real economic pathways that lead to meaningful livelihoods.

A defining part of this journey is workplace experience. Students spend time working alongside experienced professionals, developing the practical skills, confidence and work ethic that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. It is this bridge between learning and employment that is helping unlock opportunities across the local economy.

This year, 30 local businesses and organisations including BP Garage, Wild Bean Café, Build IT Howick, Coffee Berry Avenues, Coffeebox, ANEW Hotel Hilton, SPAR Quarry Hilton, SPAR Merrivale, SPAR Greendale, Halfway Toyota, Siphuthando Stepdown, Mpophonemi Shopping Centre, Howick Library, Pick n Pay Fairways, Thembelihle Primary School, RJCO Bookkeeping, Giovision, Asthuthuke Combined School, J. Leslie Smith, The Hall Café, DBs Takeaway, Apex Auto, Lenned, Wimpy, GroundTruth, Greendale House, the Sheriff’s Office, Njabola High School and the uMngeni Youth Desk have opened their doors to mentor and invest in the next generation of South Africa’s workforce!

The results speak for themselves. At ANEW Hotel Hilton, student Gift Makhathini impressed managers throughout his workplace placement.

“Gift was the best student and performed exceptionally well throughout the training,” the hotel shared.

His performance ultimately led to permanent employment, while the hotel also praised the professionalism and punctuality of the entire student group. At GroundTruth, student Snovuyo Lindi earned glowing feedback from her supervisors.

“Snovuyo is a very quick learner who is constantly observing, listening and absorbing new information,” they said, adding that she “would be a valuable asset to any organisation fortunate enough to employ her.”

RJCO Bookkeeping also celebrated the growth of student Bongi Mahlaba, noting:

“She has gained confidence, particularly with handling reception and taking calls from clients,” while adding that “She took on advice well and improved a lot.”

These stories highlight something much bigger than workplace training. The numbers tell a powerful story of their own. Students have gained 2,820 hours of real-world experience through workplace practicals. Work Ready students have contributed 396 community service hours. Through the Skills Development Centre, 570 students have been trained. Work Ready graduates have achieved a 23.7% success rate in securing work through the programme.

The Love uMngeni Job Centre has referred 66 graduates to employment opportunities. And 105 new businesses have been started by programme participants. These achievements just go to show that when businesses invest a little time in mentoring young people, they help remove one of the greatest barriers facing unemployed youth: access to opportunity.

Beyond technical skills, participants leave with professionalism, communication skills, teamwork, resilience, initiative and confidence, qualities that are often caught by watching and doing rather than taught in a classroom. They gain valuable workplace references, practical experience and a clearer understanding of employer expectations, while businesses discover motivated future employees who have already demonstrated their potential.

Love uMngeni is now calling on more businesses to become part of this growing movement.

“Hosting a workplace experience participant is not simply about offering temporary training. It is about creating an economic pathway for someone who may otherwise remain locked out of employment despite having the willingness, talent and determination to succeed. It is also an opportunity for businesses to invest directly in strengthening the local workforce and the future of the Midlands economy, and it costs nothing but time,” Love uMngeni says.

Businesses can also invest in the growth of their existing teams through Love uMngeni’s modular LEVEL UP Workforce Development Programme, which develops workplace culture, communication, leadership, ethics, emotional intelligence and productivity through practical, engaging training tailored to organisational needs.

“Together, our community can create more opportunities, strengthen local businesses and build a future where more young people move from potential to purpose, from learning to earning, and from unemployment to meaningful work.”

Businesses interested in becoming workplace hosts or getting their current staff trained can contact [email protected].