Committed to partnerships for youth training and development

Investing in youth training and development, in partnership with government and other organisations, is integral in our socio-economic development approach to ensuring we leave behind a positive and lasting legacy for our host communities.

We identify youth in our host communities who could benefit from bursaries, work experience, internships and learnerships. Our skills development, education and training programmes for unemployed youth prepare and equip them for the working world and income-generating opportunities.

Over the past five years, we have provided core mining skills training to 747 youths (87.0% absorbed into permanent positions at our operations). This initiative began in the Free State as a partnership between Harmony, Matjhabeng municipality and the Unemployment Youth Forum of South Africa. Supported by MQA grants, it expanded to North West and Gauteng. On 5 November 2022, we received a good practice award (comprising a certificate of appreciation, trophy and R15 000) at the MQA annual consultative conference for 90% absorption of mining skills trainees into Harmony.

In partnership with the Department of Education, we prepare youth in high school for gainful employment by facilitating maths and science support for learners in grades 10 to 12. We aim to address the country’s dire shortage of STEM skills. Eligible learners receive bursaries for full-time study at tertiary institutions where they can pursue careers in core and non-core mining fields (as required by our business). Our internship programme offers workplace exposure during vacations and further development opportunities after graduation.

We pool our resources with other companies to create additional skills development and employment opportunities for youth. Our partners in this initiative include the Trust Blu Foundation, implementing socio-economic development programmes on behalf of the Blue Label Telecoms subsidiary, iTalk2u, which trains call centre agents. Harmony invested R5 million and iTalk2u almost R10 million to establish a pilot facility for 120 youth in Welkom. Training graduates will receive equipment to work at home using the iTalk2u platform and generate their own income.

Harmony’s goal is to uplift youth by breaking the barriers that force communities into poverty and associated problems. Starting with the “missing middle” who miss out on opportunities due to lack of funds and knowledge, success is within reach for youth in our database and others we reach in future.