WeThinkCode_, a leading non-profit tech academy building Africa’s digital talent pipeline, has partnered with the Trevor Noah Foundation through the IDC Social Employment Fund (SEF) initiative to equip young South Africans with foundational digital and work readiness skills.
The collaboration forms part of the broader NEET Youth Pathways ecosystem, a multi-partner effort aimed at strengthening access to opportunity for young people who are not in employment, education or training. Through this initiative, WeThinkCode_ aims to reach over 360 young people between March and August, providing them with the skills, exposure and confidence needed to engage meaningfully with digital tools and pathways into the economy.
At a time when South Africa continues to face both high youth unemployment and a growing demand for digital skills, this initiative reflects a broader shift from access to attainment. It ensures that young people are not only exposed to opportunities but are equipped to progress along them.
“We know that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” said Ruvimbo Gwatirisa, Director of Partnerships at WeThinkCode_. “This partnership is a practical way of closing that gap by meeting young people where they are, building foundational capability and connecting them into an ecosystem of support that enables real progression.”
The initiative brings together a wide network of ecosystem partners, including Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Enke: Make Your Mark, FNB South Africa, NYDA, Activate! Change Drivers, Youth@Work, CorpsAfrica, Youth Life SA and Phakamani Young Minds Academy, among others. Together, these organisations are working to create more connected and supported pathways into economic participation.
This ecosystem approach reflects a growing recognition that no single organisation can solve the youth employment challenge alone. Collaboration across sectors is critical to ensuring young people are supported not only with skills, but with access, networks and real opportunities.
A pilot session held on 26 March at the WeThinkCode_ Rosebank campus marked the start of the rollout, welcoming young participants from Eldorado Park. The campus was transformed into an active learning environment, with participants engaging in digital literacy and work readiness sessions throughout the day.
The session was supported by ecosystem partners on the ground, reinforcing the value of collaborative delivery and shared impact. It also highlighted the importance of creating spaces where young people can engage directly with learning opportunities, mentors and peers.
“Education is the seed from which everything grows, and meaningful opportunity requires more than access alone. Through this partnership, we are investing in the digital and work readiness capabilities young people need to thrive in an evolving world. Our focus is not simply on touching lives through metrics, but on transforming lives through meaningful outcomes, moving young people from access to attainment and into pathways of dignity, purpose, and possibility,” said Mzwandile Msimanga, Special Projects and Partnerships Manager Trevor Noah Foundation.
WeThinkCode_’s participation in the IDC-SEF initiative builds on its broader mission to bridge the gap between education and employment by delivering demand-led, industry-aligned training. The organisation has trained over 1,800 developers to date, with more than 75% placed into jobs, demonstrating the impact of aligning skills development directly with labour market needs.
“Partnerships like this are critical to building a more inclusive digital economy,” added Gwatirisa. “They allow us to extend our model beyond formal training into earlier-stage interventions, creating a stronger and more connected pipeline of future talent.”
As the programme continues to roll out, the focus will remain on scaling access while maintaining quality. This ensures that young people are not only reached, but meaningfully supported on their journey into the world of work.
