1000 permanent jobs created for unemployed youth, from excluded communities, across South Africa.

Shadow Careers and its partners celebrated its 1000th job creation, with its 55th class of graduates - today!

More than just the observance of a significant achievement, this milestone marks the celebration of true economic transformation through the implementation of a sustainable outcome-led job creation initiative across the country - an endeavour that is set to impact across some of South Africa’s most vulnerable communities for years to come!

Founded by like-hearted people, and in response to the high youth unemployment in South Africa, Shadow Careers conceptualised an innovative way to stimulate job creation across the country. With its career creation centres located in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town and Durban, Shadow Careers set out to embolden previously excluded youth for permanent employment through a rigorous 12-week role-readiness course.

The Shadow Careers upskilling programme became an enabler to empower youth who have never worked before (and who would otherwise find it difficult to find permanent employment) with the necessary skillsets to succeed in cultivating a sustainable career path. Shadow Careers only recruits the number of students for whom they have permanent employment subject to successful completion of the Shadow programme.

Franco Cotumaccio, CEO and co-founder of Shadow Careers said: “Partnering with purpose creates outcomes that far exceed the imaginable. Four years ago Shadow Careers was a vision on a Flipchart to help make a difference to the high youth unemployment in our country. Today, together with our partners, we celebrate the achievement of our 1000th permanent career created, a significant milestone in this movement of heart. This is testament to how a collaborative ecosystem of partners with the same purpose and intention can create better and more sustainable outcomes, together.

“A heartfelt thank you to all our Shadow students, both former and current, our partners, and our incredible Shadow family for believing in the Shadow movement and for journeying with us to make this possible. May we all continue to work towards a future that intentionally and purposefully supports making a difference for young people who currently do not have hope.”

Reshni Singh, CEO of Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA) said: “As the national industry body for the sector, we couldn’t be more proud of what Shadow Careers has managed to achieve. They presented what seemed and impossible dream and made it a reality for many youth. The fact that they are celebrating their 1000th graduate shows how when an industry works together for a common goal based on purpose, we can collectively change lives.

In line with the co-created public-private partnership envisioned GBS sector Masterplan, we as an industry have embraced inclusive hiring. This focused approach to shifting the recruitment and hiring narrative to ensure the engagement and inclusion of youth from marginalised environments and communities is a game changer for our sector. Shadow Careers embodies bringing a much-needed dream to life and we look forward to seeing more partners adopting this progressive approach to socio-economic upliftment within South Africa.”

Vuyisile Sigenu, a former Shadow Careers student who lives in one of Cape Town's excluded communities, Gugulethu, notes that he, as many other students, are often faced with overcoming insurmountable obstacles that test his commitment, determination, and resilience toward building a better life for his family. Vuyisile said: “Shadow has changed my life in ways I never imagined. My goal when I started working with Shadow Careers was to have a career that would change my life for the better. However, I didn't realise that Shadow would provide me with so much personal healing through an extended family. “Having the opportunity to work and train with a company that truly believes in me will forever stand out as my career highlight. Rather than worrying about my family's future or my own, I now wake up without fear. Now, every day feels like a dream come true.”

Yearly, leading brands across the globe continue to outsource their contact centre services to South Africa by continuing their commitment to creating thousands of jobs. Partnering with some of the largest call centres across Cape Town and Durban, Shadow Careers remains resilient in recruiting students from various backgrounds, by affording them access to permanent employment opportunities once they graduate. In turn, a symbiotic relationship between local talent and international brands solidifies South Africa as a prime destination, to source exceptional customer service and world-class hospitality.

Gary Gilburd, CEO of Sigma Connected Group in Cape Town said: “Franco and his team put their hearts and souls into making Shadow Careers an ongoing success, all with the aim of giving opportunities to disadvantaged youth. We are proud that we were the first organisation to partner with Shadow Careers four years ago and that we have employed the 1st, 500th, and now the 1000th Shadow graduate. Through our partnership, we’ve created careers for 431 talented Shadow graduates across the Western Cape. To reach the 1,000 jobs mark is a wonderful moment for Shadow Careers and all their partners and we look forward to contributing to the next 1,000 careers in the months and years ahead.”

Paul Swainson, CEO of Nutun CX in Durban said: “As a partner, we celebrate with the Shadow Team the amazing work of, not just 1000 changed lives, but the impact on the families of the 1000. We celebrate together the significant difference this milestone has made to the lives of youth in South Africa.”