National Youth Service Programme

 

NRF-SAASTA is inviting unemployed Science, Engineering and Technology graduates to apply to volunteer their services at different host institutions that are currently participating in the National Youth Service Programme (NYSP) nationally. This will grant our youth an opportunity to strengthen and develop their skills, thus preparing and exposing them to the working environment.

Unemployed graduates (18-35 years of age) are invited to apply to join the 2020/21 intake for the Department of Science and Innovation’s National Youth Service Programme. A total of 550 places are available, mainly for science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates.

The programme, which is part of the government-wide National Youth Service initiative, places selected volunteers at various institutions (e.g. schools, universities, science councils and NGOs) across the country, allowing them to gain workplace experience for 12 months while offering a service to the community.

Call for Applications

Background of the National Youth Service Programme

The programme was initiated by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), and it is being implemented by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) The NYSP and Host Programme targets participants who are within the (STEM) stream, host institutions participating are also invited to take part.

The National Youth Science Programme aims to address issues related to youth unemployment, particularly within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) stream, within the nine (9) provinces in South Africa.

 

Objectives

The Youth into Science Strategy (YiSS).

The YiSS seeks to enhance youth’s access to STEMI, which should be understood in the following context:

    • Studying of mathematics, science and technology (MST) subject at school level (by young people)
    • Participation of young people in undergraduate and postgraduate STEM studies and
    • Eventually participation (of young people) in STEM careers, with a particular bias towards research and development
    • The Science Engagement Strategy – The SES intends to develop a society that is knowledgeable about science, critically engaged and scientifically literate.

Goals

The general goals of the NYS are the following:

  • Inculcate a culture of service by supporting youth to participate constructively in nation building activities
  • Inculcate in young people and understanding of their role in the promotion of civic awareness and national reconstruction.
  • Develop the skills, knowledge and abilities of young people to enable them to make the transition to adulthood.
  • Improve youth employability through opportunities for work experience, skills development and support to again access to economic and further learning opportunities.
  • Harness the nation’s untapped Human resource; and
  • Provide a vehicle for enhancing the delivery of the country’s development objectives, especially to disadvantage and underserved communities

For More Information

MacDonald Kapu
Tell: +27 (0)12 392 9300
Email: nysprecruitment@saasta.ac.za