Botswana: On 07 October 2023, the South African Navy (SAS SALDANHA) received 725 South African youth as part of a partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Developments 735 National Rural Youth Service Corp programme.
The 735 National Rural Youth Service Corp programme’s function is to capacitate unemployed youth with various skills to be able to plough back into the South African economy. The programme is implemented through four phases.
Phase 1: Form part of recruiting the youth of South Africa in the 9 Provinces
Phase 2: Comprise of the Youth Leadership Development Programme (YLDP) in partnership with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
Phase 3: The youth will then form part of a sectoral skills development programme with TVET, Agricultural Colleges and Higher Learning Institutions.
Phase 4: The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development then facilitates exit opportunities for the youth.
SAS SALDANHA forms part of phase 2 whereby certain skills will be taught over a period of 10 weeks, namely leadership, drilling which forms part of discipline, seamanship and time management to name a few.
On arrival of the 735 National Rural Youth Service Corp learners who come from all 9 provinces, the learners disembarked the buses. Then went through various security checks, proceeded to a registration section, got issued with identification documentation for the duration of the programme. Finally after a long day, they were then issued with bedding and cutlery and was sent to their new home for the coming weeks.
Officer Commanding SAS SALDANHA, Captain B.E. Madonsela she mentioned in an interview that she is excited to receive the youth of South Africa,”SAS SALDANHA is a unit that instill skills that you would never forget”, the Captain further mentioned that she is happy with the smooth process of receiving the youth and look forward to the partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
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