07/06/2026
In Uitenhage (Kariega), in the Eastern Cape, unemployment is not an abstract statistic. It is daily life. Young people finish school. Some complete diplomas or short courses. Then they wait. They wait for jobs that never come.
More than half of young people in the area are unemployed — not because they are lazy, but because the economy has changed more rapidly than new opportunities have emerged. Factories have closed, and businesses have relocated.
The Problem We’re Solving:
The truth is simple but uncomfortable: Waiting for jobs is no longer a strategy. Today, income is increasingly created through digital skills, Online customer service, Tourism and hospitality platforms, Remote and freelance work, and Online Teaching.
But most unemployed youth are locked out of these opportunities because they lack practical skills, guidance, data, and a place to start.
Our Solution: Skills That Create Income
The Uitenhage Digital Livelihood Accelerator is a community-based job creation program designed to change that reality. We are launching a pilot programme to train 20 unemployed young people (ages 18–35) in income-generating skills, including: Airbnb co-hosting and tourism services, Social media and online business support, Digital freelancing, being a virtual assistant, AI support, and online English teaching.
These are practical, market-ready skills that allow participants to earn income from overseas in USD, using a phone or laptop. This is not theory. This is not motivation. This is training designed to help people earn R5,000–R10,000 per month, becoming self-employed entrepreneurs within 3-6 months.
Why We Need Your Support:
To run this pilot for 20 young people, we need R30,000.
The Difference Your Donation Makes:
Your donation will not disappear into a system. It will help a young person learn a skill they can use immediately.
This campaign is about investment in people, not charity. How You Can Help:
1. Donate what you can
2. Share this campaign with your networks
Go here to donate or share: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/stop-waiting-for-jobs-start-creating-income
