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 Volunteer
ship Mentorship’s Placements Enterprise Community Development
Internships
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.
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.
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