Just energy transition social enterprise the DLO Skills Initiative has partnered with Chinese renewable-energy company Longyuan South Africa Renewables to provide 100 unemployed youth in De Aar with training in solar panel cleaning and maintenance.

Over three months, students were taken through theoretical and practical training to equip them with the basic skills and knowledge required for solar panel cleaning and maintenance.

De Aar is home to several of the country's largest renewable-energy projects, including the 342 MW solar plant that is set to be the largest in South Africa, says DLO Skills Initiative CEO Linda Mabhena-Olagunju.

“We have seen a lot of interest in our students already from various plants in the area and are confident that most will be able to use their skills to better their future. During the training, we placed a huge emphasis on entrepreneurship because, ideally, we want to create more entrepreneurs who, in turn, would be in a position to create more jobs.”

Youth unemployment in the Northern Cape currently stands at 42.4%. The province is home to some of the first renewable-energy plants in the country.

“We see this as an opportunity to do something beneficial for the communities. Our goal is to see more local people taking up the various opportunities in the renewable-energy sector,” she says.

De Aar is known for renewable energy, but it is extremely important that its people are trained to be able to take advantage of opportunities in this sector, says Emthanjeni municipality mayor Gladwell Nkumbi.

“We welcome the work being done through the DLO Skills Initiative and its partners China Longyuan and Power 1. Youth unemployment remains high in our community and projects like this go a long way in equipping the youth with tangible skills through which they can find employment or become self-employed. We hope to see this programme expanded,” he says.

Through initiatives like this, the DLO Skills Initiative continues to drive meaningful change by equipping youth with the skills needed to thrive in the renewable-energy sector, fostering both employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in underserved communities, says Mabhena-Olagunju.

In addition to the three-month training, the DLO Skills Initiative has established an alumni network to facilitate peer support, information sharing, and career advancement opportunities.

This network will serve as a platform for continuous learning and collaboration among graduates and industry professionals, she says.