How SA youth are rising with Anglo American Zimele
And they're not just travelling; they're thriving.
'This is a great milestone for the programme and youth development in our host communities,' says Larisha Naidoo, Head of Anglo American Zimele. 'Youth unemployment remains one of the major challenges that South Africa is facing, and this partnership is one of the ways we are contributing to reducing unemployment and poverty through impactful skilling.'
The programme combines hospitality training, personal development, and international placement to provide young people with the tools, mindset, and opportunity to succeed beyond borders.
From no opportunities to global experiences
For many participants, this is their first formal job, their first flight, and their first time leaving South Africa. But more than anything, it's their first real encounter with dignity and possibility.
'This is not just about employment. It's about reclaiming identity,' shares one of the programme leads. 'These young people left behind communities where poverty had swallowed hope. Now, they're earning international salaries, learning new cultures, and believing in themselves in ways that once felt out of reach.'
Some have used their income to build homes. Others are supporting entire households. Many are saving to start businesses of their own. The financial impact is real, but the personal growth is where the magic lives.
'I never thought I'd make it out'
Behind every uniform and passport stamp is a story. A young woman who once dropped out of school due to finances is now working in Europe and supporting her siblings. A young man who had never seen the ocean is now docking in cities across the Mediterranean, learning languages, and sending money home to his grandmother.
'I never thought I'd make it out,' says one participant stationed in Italy. 'I used to wake up every day wondering if life would ever change. Now, I wake up in a new country with a sense of purpose and pride I've never felt before.'
'Coming from Kutullo Village in Steelpoort, Limpopo, I never imagined I'd be travelling across the world,'says Monica Madere, one of the programme beneficiaries. 'This opportunity didn't just change my location — it changed my mindset. I believe I can build a future now.'
They speak about the discipline they've developed, the friendships they've formed across cultures, and the way this experience has redefined what they believe is possible.
Beyond jobs: Building personal brands and future leaders
The transformation doesn't stop at sea. As part of the programme's reintegration phase, returned beneficiaries are being supported through personal branding and career development workshops, ensuring their global experience becomes a launchpad for greater opportunities.
Masterclasses have begun across provinces, starting with Limpopo, where returned seafarers are now learning to articulate their stories, update their CVs, and position themselves for long-term career growth.
They are no longer just 'former cruise workers.' They are global citizens, future business owners, community role models, and storytellers of resilience.
A model for youth empowerment done right
As Youth Month comes to a close, this initiative offers more than inspiration. It presents a b lueprint for measurable impact. It proves what happens when intentional investment meets real opportunity.
Back home, families are hopeful. Communities are inspired. And a generation that once felt forgotten is finally being seen, supported, and celebrated.
This isn't just youth development. This is nation-building.
Because when we dare to believe in the potential of our young people, they show us exactly what they're capable of and the world, quite literally, becomes their stage.
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