The traditional approach to poverty has been to provide resources to the poor, job-creation, access to markets, skills training and access to capital. Billions of dollars have been spent on this approach. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for roughly 60% of the global population living in poverty in 2020. Of the world’s 28 poorest countries, 27 are in sub-Saharan Africa — all with a poverty rate above 30 percent! South Africa, for example, is sitting with 54% unemployment amongst the youth and 33% overall unemployment. Massive amounts of money have been spent to eradicate poverty in Africa and South America, yet this is still the case. Something needs to change in our approach to poverty!

This is the driving force behind W4AL starting in 2007, and after 16 years, it persists in its mission to empower economically disadvantaged individuals around the world by offering them opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship.

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WORK 4 A LIVING is a non-profit organisation that equips unemployed people with the mindset and skills to gain employment, and connects them to employers. We do this through Skills Centers facilitated by community members in some of the poorest communities around the world. Our W4AL centres host workplace readiness and skills courses designed to teach workplace skills, financial skills and how to work to a standard of excellence. We do this by focusing on mindset, changing mindsets from a Poverty mindset (“I’m poor, I’ll always be poor. I can’t change”) to a development/growth mindset (“I can work and I have to work”). WORK 4 A LIVING centres have equipped just over 40 000 students from low income communities across 19 countries over the last 17 years.

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We want to partner with you to start new 15 new W4AL centres across South Africa and 10 new W4AL centres in East Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda). Starting these new Hubs will give at least 3000 unemployed people (per annum) in East Africa and 4500 unemployed people (per annum) in South Africa access to the following:
-Job-market opportunities through our extensive employer network.

-Access to business training that equips people to start and manage their own businesses and create job opportunities in their communities.

-Financial literacy.

-Access to skills opportunities via 21 different online skills courses they can complete at the centre.

-Taught a Biblical Worldview and to be given an opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel.

We also want to partner with you to get unemployed people working with excellence, via our Siya Sebenza campaign ("We are working" in Xhosa). The Siya Sebenza campaign is focused on connecting students from W4AL centres in Africa to job opportunities. We are not only up-skilling unemployed people but are also using our resources to connect them to job opportunities and this is where we need your help.

By donating to our Siya Sebenza campaign, you will be supporting our facilitators in empowering WORK 4 A LIVING graduates, through a change in worldview, into jobs and businesses.

See more at https://work4aliving.org/