What Is Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator?
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a South African not for profit social enterprise focused on reducing youth unemployment.
The organisation works to connect work seeking young people with employers while helping them build the skills, confidence, and workplace readiness needed to succeed in the labour market.
Harambee collaborates with businesses, government departments, and employment partners to create pathways into employment, training, and work experience.
Connecting Young South Africans to Real Employment Opportunities
Finding your first job can be challenging, especially if you have little or no work experience. Many employers want candidates with practical skills, while many young people simply need someone willing to give them a first opportunity.
To help bridge this gap, South Africa has developed several employment initiatives that prepare young people for the workplace while connecting them with employers.
One of the country’s most recognised organisations in this space is Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator.
Harambee works with employers, government, training providers, and development partners to help young South Africans improve their employability and access work opportunities across multiple industries.
Who Can Join Harambee?
Harambee primarily supports young South Africans who are looking for work or opportunities to gain workplace experience.
Its programmes are particularly relevant to:
- Matriculants
- TVET College graduates
- University graduates
- First time job seekers
- Unemployed youth
- Young people seeking entry-level employment
Eligibility requirements may vary depending on the programme or employer.
What Opportunities Does Harambee Offer?
Depending on available programmes, Harambee may help young people access:
- Entry-level jobs
- Learnerships
- Internships
- Work readiness programmes
- Skills development initiatives
- Employer recruitment opportunities
- Career support services
Available opportunities change throughout the year based on employer demand.
How Does Harambee Work?
Harambee partners with employers to identify suitable candidates for available opportunities.
Depending on the programme, participants may:
- Register their details
- Complete assessments
- Participate in work readiness activities
- Build digital and employability skills
- Be matched with participating employers
The organisation focuses on helping employers identify candidates with the potential to succeed rather than relying only on previous work experience.
Why Is Harambee Important?
Youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s biggest economic challenges.
Harambee helps reduce barriers to employment by supporting young people who may have the potential to succeed but lack workplace experience or professional networks.
By working with employers across different industries, the organisation contributes to creating more inclusive pathways into employment.
Harambee and Other Employment Platforms
Young people often use Harambee alongside other trusted employment platforms.
For example:
Harambee
Focuses on connecting young people with employer opportunities and work readiness initiatives.
SAYouth
Provides access to youth employment, learning, volunteering, entrepreneurship, and development opportunities.
ESSA
Connects registered work seekers with employers through the Department of Employment and Labour.
CareersPursuit
Publishes daily, internships, apprenticeships, graduate programmes, bursaries, and career opportunities from employers across South Africa.
Using multiple trusted platforms can improve your chances of finding suitable opportunities.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Harambee
To improve your chances of success:
- Complete your profile accurately.
- Keep your contact details updated.
- Respond promptly to communications.
- Continue improving your digital and workplace skills.
- Apply for opportunities that match your qualifications and interests.
- Use other trusted employment platforms alongside Harambee.
Being proactive significantly improves your employment prospects.
Thabang Maimela’s Perspective
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that finding a job is rarely about using just one platform.
Every organisation works with different employers and different programmes. Harambee, SAYouth, ESSA, and CareersPursuit each play a different role in helping young South Africans discover opportunities.
The people who succeed are usually those who stay active across multiple trusted platforms, continuously improve their skills, and remain consistent in applying for opportunities.
Treat your job search like a full time commitment, and you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of success.
— Thabang Maimela
Founder & Editor, YouthSETA
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator?
Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator is a South African social enterprise that helps connect young people with employment, work readiness programmes, and career opportunities.
Is Harambee free?
Yes. Young people are not required to pay to register for Harambee programmes.
Who can join Harambee?
Harambee primarily supports unemployed South African youth, including matriculants, graduates, and first-time job seekers.
Does Harambee guarantee a job?
No. Harambee helps prepare and connect young people with opportunities, but employers make the final recruitment decisions.
Can I use Harambee together with SAYouth and ESSA?
Yes. Registering on multiple trusted employment platforms can improve your chances of discovering suitable opportunities.
I am Thabang Maimela, Founder and Editor of CareersPursuit and YouthSETA, two South African platforms dedicated to helping individuals access employment opportunities, skills development programmes, and career growth resources. Through CareersPursuit, I focus on jobs, internships, apprenticeships, graduate programmes, learnerships, and career advice, while YouthSETA specialises in SETA learnerships, skills programmes, youth development initiatives, and workplace readiness resources. My mission is to make reliable, up to date information more accessible, helping South Africans build skills, improve employability, and navigate their career journeys with confidence. Read more about the author on the About US page.