Making You
Industry Ready
Practical training, tools,
and mentorship for real market success
Banks Don't
Fund Ideas
Traditional funding requires proof,
track records, and collateral
But We Do
We provide the skills, tools, and support
to turn your idea into reality
Our Core Focus
Three pillars that drive our mission to empower youth entrepreneurs
Our Story
The Genesis of Izwe Youth Foundation
The Izwe Youth Foundation was born from the vision of Sandile Dladla, who believed deeply in creating pathways for others to succeed. Driven by a desire to see young people win, he sought to build a sustainable solution to South Africa's unemployment crisis.
Sandile Dladla brought this powerful vision to his business partners Vela Mchunu and Vuyani Mkhize at Naadi Contractors. After discussing and refining the vision together, they presented it to fellow entrepreneurs and companies who shared their passion for change. The idea resonated with organizations like Newton Inc. and 411 SHEQ Consulting, who recognized the urgent need for practical solutions.
The collective realization was clear: to truly tackle unemployment at scale, we needed to move beyond traditional job creation. The most powerful approach would be to empower young people to become entrepreneurs – believing that for every sustainable business we help launch, we create not just one job, but the foundation for ten more.
Our Mission
To provide young South Africans with practical business skills, essential tools, and ecosystem access to launch and grow sustainable enterprises.
- Industry-ready entrepreneurship
- Practical skills over theory
- Real business toolkits
Our Vision
To create a generation of youth entrepreneurs who become job creators, transforming South Africa's economic landscape through sustainable business.
- From job seekers to job creators
- Globalizing local solutions
- Multiplying impact through business
Strategic Partners & Founding Supporters
Our journey is powered by visionary organizations committed to youth development and entrepreneurship:
Join Our Growing Network
We need more people and companies to join our movement! Whether through donations, mentorship, or providing similar services, together we can spread our reach and help more youth access the opportunities they deserve.
Major Sponsors & Partners
Collaborating with forward-thinking organizations to empower South Africa's youth entrepreneurs and create sustainable economic impact.
Donor Recognition Tiers
Every contribution is appreciated. Receive a recognition certificate and supporting letter with your donation.
Why We Exist: The South African Employment Challenge
South Africa faces significant unemployment challenges, particularly affecting youth. These statistics highlight why our work is crucial:
31.9%
Official unemployment rate
Q3 2025 — down from 33.2% in Q2 2025
40.7%
Employment rate
Share of working-age population employed (Q3 2025)
44.9%
Labour underutilisation
Includes unemployed, underemployed, and discouraged work-seekers
17.1 million
Employed persons
Q3 2025 (up by ~248,000 quarter-on-quarter)
8.0 million
Unemployed persons
Q3 2025 — representing a critical need for job creation
Join the Movement Against Unemployment
Help us transform these statistics by empowering South Africa's next generation of entrepreneurs.
1 ENTREPRENEUR = 10+ JOBS OPPORTUNITY
This Opportunity Is Open To All South Africans
Let's unite to build a better, more prosperous South Africa together. Our movement doesn't discriminate or favor any particular race - we're here to empower every South African youth.
United We Rise | One Nation | One Future
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about our application process, funding, and support timeline
- The viability and potential impact of your business idea
- Alignment with our foundation's mission and focus areas
- Completeness and quality of your application
- Current funding cycles and sponsor commitments
- Become a Sponsor/Donor - Financial contributions help us support more youth entrepreneurs
- Share our Mission - Help spread awareness about our work
- Offer Professional Services - Apply as a service provider if you have relevant skills
- Be Patient - Allow us to focus on processing applications efficiently
Important Note
We're a small team working hard to make a big impact. Your patience and understanding allow us to focus on what matters most: reviewing applications thoroughly and securing support for deserving youth entrepreneurs.