CTRACK AND THE AMY FOUNDATION SEEK TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE FOR SA

Employment has been declining over the past two decades and South Africa’s workforce is not future proof, highlighting the need for upskilling our youth and workforce in South Africa, according to Statistics SA. By the official count, 6.7-million people are unemployed in South Africa, which is 29% of people who could be working. By the expanded definition, more than 10 million people are unemployed, or 38.5% of people who could be contributing to the economy. The current COVID-19 pandemic has made matters worse and it is more important than ever before to create an employable youth with better life opportunities going into the future.

“We believe that as a business; we have a responsibility to play a part in the upskilling challenge in our country. It plays an important role to uplift society and the broader economy. Further to this, the working environment of the future will look much different and will require new skills, skills which are harder to come by in vulnerable communities where opportunities are lacking,” says Hein Jordt, Managing Director of Ctrack. “Corporate Social Responsibility is our ongoing commitment to operate ethically while contributing to the quality of life of our local community and the wider society”.

Ctrack has been assisting the Amy Foundation since 2014, they are an NGO which has been offering development programmes to the youth in the Western Cape region. Ctrack fits their vehicles with tracking devices and monitors the safety of their vehicles free of charge. With over 30 years’ experience, Ctrack has a stolen vehicle recovery rate in excess of 95%. Ctrack is a global leader in Vehicle Tracking, Fleet Management and Insurance Telematics Solutions. The Amy Foundation’s vehicles travel into informal settlements where facilitators assist children with after school programmes to help advance skills for future development and employment.

The Amy Foundation (formerly Amy Biehl Foundation) aspire to empower young people (between the ages of five to 35 years) who come from challenged backgrounds and vulnerable communities. They assist to develop emotionally well-rounded youngsters to make positive life choices and to become economically viable members of society. The Foundation’s slogan is Changing Lives.

“Ctrack plays a pivotal role through offering us a partnership by keeping an eye on our vehicles. We are also far more efficient and effective at managing the vehicles and the usage of them. The Amy Foundation is able to not only assist with collection of bread, food items, clothing and volunteers, but is also used to transport learners and staff to various outreach programmes, camps and outings,” explains Kevin Chaplin, Managing Director of the Amy Foundation.

Chaplin elaborates: “After school programmes provide an environment which allows children to overcome educational shortcomings. We focus on creativity to make learning more enjoyable while fostering the drive to academic success. Our Youth Skills Development programmes help young adults to better understand and prepare for the world of work, what to expect from employees and how to create prospects for entrepreneurship.

With more than 1 000 youngsters participating in daily programmes, the Foundation empowers both the participants at schools, as well as surrounding communities. With the help of Ctrack in keeping our vehicles from harm, we can continue this important work. It further assists us as Ctrack does not charge us a monthly fee for tracking our vehicles, so we can utilise this money to continue our work. As an NGO, we are dependent on all the help we can get to support young people to achieve more than what they have hoped for. Poor education results in a lack of skill and ability, which contributes to high unemployment. High unemployment fosters income inequality and slow economic growth, which in turn limit access to, and funding for growth and a better quality of life“.

The Foundation was named after American student, Amy Biehl, a gifted and dynamic young woman who was committed to making a difference in South Africa when her life was tragically cut short in 1993. Determined to honour Amy’s love for South Africa and her belief in empowering young people, Amy’s parents founded the organisation.

“While employment opportunities remain limited, there are many ways in which we can assist young people through developing their talents and potential to become more employable, to create opportunities, to open the possibilities of entrepreneurship to even start their own businesses. This is what we want to see and what we work towards; and we cannot thank Ctrack enough for their interest, support and partnership over the past six years,” Chaplin concludes.