The programme aims to equip 50 young people with the valuable skills and market access needed to secure sustainable employment in the fast-evolving digital economy.

The province faces a massive unemployment challenge, which currently stands at 41% – significantly higher than the national average of 33.5%. It is also home to Stellantis’s new assembly plant in the Coega Industrial Development Zone in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan area and will contribute jobs to the province and the automotive industry.

Together with key business and financial partners, this new transformative initiative will provide critical opportunities in a sector primed for quality job creation and in need of new skills as the prospect of New Energy Vehicle production becomes a reality for the industry.

“Education is the biggest contributor to progress, and the more people we can provide education to, the more they will contribute to their lives and their communities,” says Stellantis SA Managing Director, Mike Whitfield. “Our Greenfields manufacturing facility will be establishing the very jobs these new skills will be trained to fulfil.”

Through the SA Youth online platform, 50 young Eastern Cape learners from disadvantaged backgrounds will be identified and selected to undergo a year-long programme focused on providing technical training in ODIN Checkpoint Shop floor Task Management Solutions.

This leading global automation technology is the type used in world-class manufacturing facilities, including Stellantis SA’s new plant. The training will be complemented by mentorship and hands-on experience in virtual systems maintenance.

The project will further provide the trainees with direct market access, allowing them to engage in various services, including system onboarding, implementation and the development of Standard Operating Procedures content.

Additionally, the Chamber’s Entrepreneurship Desk will support the young trainees to develop vital entrepreneurial skills, empowering them to launch their own business ventures and contribute to the economic upliftment of the region.

The initiative will also have a strong focus on entrepreneurial development, with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the area benefiting from the highly skilled youth workforce. The Chamber has already placed over 100 interns with full stipends in local MSMEs and will continue to provide valuable opportunities for youth in the region.

“We believe in the power of partnerships to drive meaningful change. By equipping our youth with in-demand skills and providing direct market access, we are not only combating unemployment but fostering an entrepreneurial spirit that will last for generations,” says Nelson Mandela Bay Business Chamber CEO Denise van Huyssteen.

Stellantis SA says it aims to share its values, knowledge and resources through philanthropic actions, which are rooted in the belief that education is the cornerstone of progress and empowerment.

Stellantis Philanthropy is distinct from the company’s business operations in that it is purely philanthropic, focusing on creating opportunities and fostering hope. By providing tools for transformation, Stellantis Philanthropy aims to help individuals dream big and achieve lasting change, it states.