City of Cape Town funds two back-to-back CapaCiTi programmes and is changing lives through investing in digital skills training for the youth.

Just as the previous cohort of 33, young Systems Development candidates graduated with a 70% placement into further work-related opportunities, the City of Cape Town started their next fully-funded cohort with digital skills career accelerator, CapaCiTi.

The City of Cape Town-funded programme that graduated recently was focussed on providing the youth with job critical and technical skills training and included an entrepreneurial module to help these young people enter the digital world of work. “We are proud that 6 of the candidates of this cohort recently joined the Digilink initiative, a collaboration between CapaCiTi, Harambee and Techxit, and are already showing their worth to the CapaCiTi partners,” says Fiona Tabraham, Chief Executive of CapaCiTi.  CapaCiTi’s partners agrees.    “We have realized over the years that to create genuine systems change for the good in our fragile labour market we need great ecosystem partnerships and collaboration. The Harambee, Techxit and CapaCiTi collaboration at Digilink is one such partnership setting out to bridge the crucial gap between young people qualifying in various digital skills and what employers are ultimately looking for in digital candidates. Although it’s very early days for Digilink, Harambee have been over the moon with the first 6 candidates from CapaCiTi. These energetic young candidates have come prepared, equipped and work ready to continue their journeys at Digilink,” says Tim Andrews, Digital Enablement Executive Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.

Alderman James Vos visited the CapaCiTi Campus in Woodstock on Friday 27 November 2020 to wish the new cohort luck on their skills journey with CapaCiTi.  The 45 young people that joined the new ICT Enabler cohort are excited to start their career journey.  These candidates will be taught skills in Front End Web Development, Search Engine Optimisation, Coding in Java, JavaScript and Python and Cloud Architecture, alongside career critical skills such as communication, problem solving and work ready skills.  They will receive micro credentials in the form of vendor certification and the intention is that 50% of the cohort will join a Centre of Excellence, hosted by the Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative, when they graduate in 2021.

“I am proud to say that not only does this City government provide basic services but we are a driving force behind essential skills training programmes which aim to open the door to the opportunity of work placements and career development in the tech-ecosystem for the youth and unemployed,” says Alderman Vos.

Cape Town is the tech-capital in Africa and this sector employs more than 40 000 people in Cape Town. Through the City’s Enterprise and Investment Department, the city funds training programmes to ensure that companies have access to the skilled workforce they need to succeed and expand.

The City of Cape Town is calling on corporates and businesses within the ICT sector to do their part and provide opportunities for young people to gain access to valuable job experience through internships and entry-level job opportunities.  For more information visit https://uvuafrica.com/capaciti/