POPUP is a non-profit organization that focuses on restoring and empowering unemployed people to become employable in the future. According to their website, POPUP was created in 1999, and “since 2005 [POPUP] has operated a fully-fledged skills training and development center to ensure independence, restoration and true upliftment of individuals through market-related, cost-effective training.”
A variety of soft and technical skills programs are provided internally at its’ two Pretoria-based centers in the inner-city of Pretoria and Soshanguve (an informal settlement based in the northwestern parts of Pretoria) in South Africa.
Training is provided at minimal costs for learners at POPUP, and the complete process from assessment to receiving their skill’s certificate costs a learner $33 compared to the actual cost of ±$636 per learner (based on the exchange rate between US Dollar to ZAR on 13 July 2018).
POPUP stated, “The Basic Education System in South Africa fails our youth and of the 10.3 million people in the age category between 15 and 24 years of age, 29.7% were unemployed, have no education or training. Young people aged 15-24 remain vulnerable in the labor market with the unemployment rate of over 52% and an absorption rate of almost 13%.”
The monetary donation from SOTG and RussellStone Protein will be utilized to increase the impact to assist in the assessment, life skills program and skills training for the unemployed youth. The assessment focuses on the English and numeracy abilities of the proposed learners to be able to be functionally literate. This will enable them to follow one of the 28 accredited skills training programs that will empower them to find employment or start their own enterprises.
POPUP is often the first stop when recruitment departments of companies search for entry-level positions. The reason being that they are looking for equipped, but also changed individuals with restored morals and values.
The following statistical information gives an overview of POPUP’s impact
11,296 people received services from POPUP’s Advice Center from 2013 to 2016.
6,144 people attended our Life Skills training, a 3-week compulsory program for all learners before they enter a skills training program from 2006 to 2017. The outcome of our Life Skills program is changed morals and values.
7,045 people received skills training in both accredited and non-accredited skills programs (2006 – 2017). An average of 95% of learners successfully completed their skills training at POPUP.
51 Businesses were established since 2012.
203 learners were placed in employment during 2017 POPUP despite a declining economy of which 63 learner ships.
