SOUTH AFRICAN GRADUATES DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (SAGDA) PROFILE

 

The South African Graduates Development Association (SAGDA) is non-governmental youth initiative that was registered in 1997.

 

SAGDA’s overall objectives are to strengthen civil society through the empowerment of graduates for social transformation.

 

SAGDA is dedicated to building skills that will enable graduates to participate in the country’s socio-economic mainstream, respond to social development needs in our communities and enable them access the world of work.

 

Directors

 

Brian Koopedi (Chairperson)

Vukile Nkabinde (Board Secretary & Executive)

Elizabeth Dlamini-Khumalo        

Tiny Moabelo    

Duduzile Maseko

Lesiba Sekele

Boitumelo Delight Matilda Nyuswa

Caleb Thamsanqa Maqubela

Simon Mataboge

Elizabeth Pruscent Nkhabele

Elizabeth Montshiwa

 

Executive Management:

 

Vukile Nkabinde- Executive Director       

Ronnie Midaka - Chief Operations Officer

Connie Sathekge- Acting Programmes Officer

Semopo Mokgabudi - Business Development Officer

 

 

Vision:

 

An enabling environment where graduates are integrated into the socio-economic mainstream.

 

Mission:

 

To develop Graduates from tertiary institutions for active participation in the socio economic mainstream, while inculcating a culture of social responsibility, through the rendering of a quality and professional service in order to reduce the level of graduate unemployment.

 

 

Principles and values:

 

Core Value

What it means for us?

Integrity

We will always be honest in all that we do.

Commitment

We will be committed to the organisation, its vision and mission.

Respect

We will act with respect towards one another, and towards our members.

Creativity

We will promote and make room for creativity in approaching all that we do.

Accountability

We will be accountable to all our stakeholders.

People

We will value people simply for who they are.

 

Model of Operation- Programme Intervention

 

 

PRACTICALS

 

INTEGRATION

(Exit & Support)

 

ENTRY

 

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

 
 

 

 


                                   

Life Skills Social Development

Business Skills

Computer Skills

 

Internships

Volunteer ship

Mentorship’s

 

Placements

 

Enterprise

 

Community Development

 
 


Skills Assessment

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


q      Recruitment

q      Screening

q      Selection

q      Profiling

 

q      Job Preparation

q      Computer Literacy

q      Economic Literacy

q      Social development Skills

q      Life Strategies

q      Workplace skills (Internship)

q      Learnerships

q      Mentoring/ Coaching partnerships

q      Volunteering

 

q      Formal Placement

q      (Public, Private and Civic sectors)

q      New Business Initiatives

q      Community Project Initiatives

q      Advisory Services

 

Lobbing and Advocacy

q      Educational Policy, Framework and Curriculum

q      Human Resource / Skills Development Strategy

q      National Job Creation Strategies

q      National Small Business Development Strategy

q      Youth Empowerment Strategy

 

There are three phases underpinning this section

 

Phase 1

 

Registration and assessment of graduates

Graduates fill in a form that assists us in assessing skills need (literacy, innumeracy and personal attribute).  They are then put on a database according to their fields of study.

 

Phase 2

 

Training and development

Graduates undergo training on personal and professional development which, (this is done in conjunctions with service provider)

·         Job preparation – job hunting skills, interview skills, CV writing, understanding of labour market

·         Computer literacy – Ms Word, Excel, Power-point, Internet, and email usage

·         Life skills – time management, communication skills, Teamwork, Self-confidence and motivation.

·         Orientation to Business skills

·         Project development and management skills

 

Other types of training, which are mostly specialised, are driven by employers, industry, or stakeholders needs where SAGDA plays a referral role.

 

Phase 3

Practical experiential learning

 

·         Internship – this is a practical work explore component of the programme with organisation for a particular period and have a mentor.

·         Volunteerism - this is a method of training work experience through participating in social development projects and a voluntary basis.

 

SAGDA seek to facilitate the alignment of the programme to the national skills development strategy in a form of a learnerships and skills programme and for accreditation of the programme.

 

SAGDA INTERVENTION PROGRAMS:

 

Training and Development for Integration

 

SAGDA in its endeavour for skills development provides relevant skills necessary to enable unemployed graduates to enter and equally compete in the labour market and the broader environment.

 

Our Training and Development as the job readiness program seeks to develop and prepare graduates facing challenges of unemployability by participating and training graduates on soft skills and core competencies required by the labour market, this is done through working with training service providers.

 

The Integration phase seeks to places graduates in formal employment; self-employment and community based projects, thus responding to the country's social and economic needs.

Placement

 

At the placement level SAGDA seeks to relevant skills necessary to enable unemployed graduates to enter and equally compete in the labour market and the broader environment.

 

 

Entrepreneurship

 

SAGDA is committed towards encouraging the mindset of graduates from job seekers to job creators. SAGDA has also registered an Investment Holding, which seeks to be a vehicle to integrate graduates in the economy. A tourism business initiative is one anchor business that has been successfully developed with a graduate and has won tender from a World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and the Cricket World Cup. For more information on this, check this website: www.sagda.co.za/traveltours.html.

Community Development

 

This programme is aimed at empowering graduates to pursue careers as Agents of Social Change, i.e. looking at Community Development as a career alternative.   Volunteerism through child grant campaigns, illiteracy alleviation, HIV/AIDS and access to justice are just some of the current projects where graduates are involved under the banner of the Civic Service.

 

Research, Advocacy and Lobbying

 

Amongst others, SAGDA has been involved with Advocacy & Lobbying for Curriculum Transformation, Skills Development, and Economic Empowerment in response to the changing economic and social environment in South Africa. SAGDA officials sit in different committees, e.g. Council on Higher Education, UIF Board, and SAGDA is a member organisation of the South African Youth Council.

 

 

 

 


Organisations that have recruited from SAGDA:

Public Sector

Private Sector

Organisations

CHIETA

Department of Foreign Affairs

Department of Justice

Department of Labour

Department of Public Works

Dept. of Soc. Services and Population Development

Department of Trade and Industry

Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA)

Gauteng Premier’s Office (Youth Directorate)

HSRC

HWSETA

Independent Complaints Directorate

Khula Enterprise

Mining Qualification Authority

National Development Agency

National Prosecuting Authority

National Treasury

SANLI

Statistics South Africa

South African Secret Service

Universal Service Agency

Zivuseni Poverty Alleviation Programme

 

AST Group

3M Pharmaceuticals

Africa City Soft

Anglogold

Arthur Anderson

BMFI

Civil Aviation Authority

Dinako Consultants

Eskom

EPA Development (Pty) Ltd

Fedsure

Gobodo Incorporated

Kagiso Consultants

Khulumani Support Group

Kamano Communications

Mafube Publishers

Obakeng Consultants

Price Waterhouse Coopers

Primeserv

Protex 

Pick ’n Pay

Sacher Housing

SABC

Transnet Housing

Timken Bearing Services South Africa

Ngubane Consortium

 

 

 

BMF

Black Business Council

CASE

Khanya College

Kitso Media

Micro- Enterprise Alliance

Nations Trust

SANGOCO

Umsobomvu Youth Fund

Women’s Development Banking

Youth Development Trust

Youth Development Network

British Trade and Investment

Khula Enterprises

Khulisa Management Services

Marong Financial Services

World Vision

 

 

 

 

 

SAGDA

58 Marshall Street 5th floor Business Place

P.O Box 2187

Johannesburg 2001

Tel: + 27 11 838-2526

Fax: + 27 11 492-2589

E-mail: info@sagda.org.za