Terms & Conditions

Section 01

Who We Are

Skilled Youth Africa is a youth training and workplace experience programme operated under the Youth Empowerment Project. We are a community-based organisation founded and led by Siphiwe Mabusela, operating across all nine provinces of South Africa.

We are what we say we are. Nothing more. Nothing less. Our full description, purpose, activities, and programme details are published openly on our website at skilledyouth.africa. Those published materials represent the totality of who we are and what we do.

Section 02

What We Are Not — Important Disclaimers

In the interest of complete transparency, Skilled Youth Africa explicitly states the following. These are not qualifications or limitations — they are clear statements of fact about the nature of this organisation. Please read them carefully.

Section 03

What We Actually Do

Skilled Youth Africa does exactly what is described on our website. We are a structured skills training and workplace experience programme. Our activities are limited to the following:

• Recruiting unemployed South African youth aged 18 to 35 from communities across all nine provinces into free skills training cohorts
• Delivering structured training across a range of skill pathways relevant to the current and emerging economy
• Placing trained participants in structured workplace experience environments — real operating businesses and community projects — for a defined period
• Issuing certificates of completion and workplace experience records to participants who successfully complete the programme
• Supporting graduates in identifying employment, freelance income, or enterprise opportunities following their placement

If something is not listed above and not described on our website, we do not do it. Our scope is deliberately defined and we operate strictly within it.

Section 04

No Employment Guarantee

Completing the Skilled Youth Africa programme increases your marketable skills and provides you with a verifiable record of real-world experience. However, the following factors remain outside our control and are therefore not guaranteed:

• Whether a participant secures employment after completing the programme
• The salary, income level, or earning potential of any graduate
• Whether a placement partner organisation offers a participant continued employment
• The success of any freelance or entrepreneurial activity undertaken by a graduate
• The economic conditions of the labour market at any given time

Any testimonials, success stories, or outcome statistics shared on our website or social media are real and accurately reported, but they represent individual experiences and are not guarantees of similar outcomes for all participants.

Section 05

We Are Not a Recruitment Agency

Skilled Youth Africa is not a recruitment agency, staffing agency, labour broker, or employment service provider as defined under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 or the Employment Services Act 4 of 2014.

This means:

• We do not source, screen, or place candidates into jobs on behalf of employers for a fee or commission
• We do not maintain a database of candidates available for employer search and selection in the manner of a recruitment agency
• We do not act as an intermediary in an employment relationship between a participant and a third-party employer
• Workplace placements offered through our programme are structured training and experience exercises — not employment contracts or job offers
• Participants in our workplace placements are not employees of the placement host organisation unless a separate, independent employment agreement is entered into directly between the participant and that organisation

If a placement partner organisation chooses to offer a participant employment following their placement, that is an independent decision made by that organisation and does not involve Skilled Youth Africa as a party to the employment relationship.

Section 06

We Are Not a Financial Services Provider

Skilled Youth Africa is not authorised to provide financial advice, investment advice, credit, insurance, or any other financial service as regulated under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 (FAIS), the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017 (FSRA), or any other applicable South African financial services legislation.

6.1 No Financial Advice

Nothing on our website, in our programme materials, in our social media content, or communicated by any member of our team constitutes financial advice. Any information we share about income potential, earning from skills, freelancing income, or energy business opportunities is for illustrative and educational purposes only.

6.2 We Are Not an Investment Company

Skilled Youth Africa does not:

• Accept investments from individuals or organisations in exchange for returns, dividends, or profit shares
• Manage, invest, or administer any funds on behalf of participants or third parties
• Offer any financial product, security, or investment instrument of any kind
• Promise or project specific financial returns from participation in our programme or any associated project

6.3 Cooperative and Business Structures

Where our programme involves participants setting up cooperatives, micro-enterprises, or distribution businesses — such as within the Triotics LPG ecosystem — those are independent commercial activities undertaken by participants in their own right. Skilled Youth Africa provides training and a structured framework. We are not a party to, investor in, or guarantor of any commercial enterprise operated by our graduates.

If you require financial, investment, or legal advice in relation to any business opportunity, we strongly encourage you to consult a registered financial adviser or legal professional.

Section 07

We Are Not a Political Organisation

Skilled Youth Africa is a non-partisan, non-political organisation. We are not affiliated with, funded by, or aligned to any political party, political movement, trade union federation, civil society pressure group, or advocacy organisation in South Africa or elsewhere.

• We do not endorse, campaign for, or support any political party or candidate
• We do not use our programme, platform, or participant base to advance any political agenda
• We do not accept funding or direction from political organisations in exchange for alignment with their positions
• Participation in our programme does not imply or require any political affiliation on the part of the participant
• Our work addressing youth unemployment is a socioeconomic mission — it is not a political campaign

We work with individuals, community organisations, businesses, and municipalities across the political spectrum, and we do so on the basis of shared interest in youth development — not political alignment.

Section 08

Use of Our Website

By accessing and using skilledyouth.africa, you agree to use the website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe the rights of others or restrict their use and enjoyment of the site.

8.1 Permitted Use

• Accessing information about our programme, pathways, and registration process
• Submitting a registration or contact enquiry in good faith
• Sharing our website content and links for the purpose of referring others to our programme
• Downloading or printing content from our website for your own personal, non-commercial reference

8.2 Prohibited Use

• Using our website or brand for any fraudulent, deceptive, or misleading purpose
• Impersonating Skilled Youth Africa or any member of our team online or offline
• Reproducing, republishing, or commercially distributing our website content without written permission
• Attempting to gain unauthorised access to any part of our website or its underlying systems
• Using our name, logo, or brand materials to raise funds, solicit participants, or conduct activities on our behalf without explicit written authorisation

Section 09

Your Responsibilities as a Participant or User

By registering for or participating in the Skilled Youth Africa programme, you confirm and agree to the following:

• The information you provide during registration is accurate, honest, and up to date
• You are aged 18 or above at the time of registration
• You understand that programme participation is free and that you will never be asked to pay any fee to register, train, or receive a certificate
• You understand that completing the programme does not guarantee employment and that your outcomes depend in part on your own effort and circumstances
• You will attend training sessions with commitment and engage honestly with your placement host
• You will not represent yourself as an employee or official of Skilled Youth Africa unless explicitly authorised to do so in writing
• You will not misrepresent your participation, certificates, or placement records to any employer, client, or third party
• You will treat fellow participants, facilitators, and placement hosts with respect and professionalism

Section 10

Intellectual Property

All content on the Skilled Youth Africa website — including but not limited to text, curriculum materials, design elements, logos, graphics, the wordmark, and the SKYO stamp — is the intellectual property of Skilled Youth Africa and the Youth Empowerment Project, unless otherwise indicated.

• You may not reproduce, distribute, adapt, or commercially exploit any of our content without prior written permission
• You may share links to our website and reference our programme name for the purpose of referring participants
• Certificates, placement records, and programme materials issued to participants remain the intellectual property of Skilled Youth Africa and are issued under licence for the participant’s personal use
• Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas submitted to us may be used by Skilled Youth Africa without obligation or compensation to the submitter

Section 11

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable South African law, Skilled Youth Africa, its founders, facilitators, staff, volunteers, and placement partners shall not be liable for:

• Any failure to secure employment, income, or business success following participation in the programme
• Any loss, damage, or harm arising from a participant’s use of skills or knowledge acquired through the programme
• Any actions, decisions, or outcomes arising from independent business activities, cooperatives, or enterprises established by graduates
• Any inaccuracy, interruption, or unavailability of our website or digital communications
• Any content published on third-party platforms that references Skilled Youth Africa without our authorisation
• Any indirect, consequential, or incidental loss arising from your use of or reliance on any information published on our website

Nothing in these Terms and Conditions excludes or limits liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by gross negligence — where such limitation is not permitted by law.

Section 12

Third-Party Links and Platforms

Our website and social media channels may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, or resources — including but not limited to freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr, community platforms, and partner organisation websites.

• We do not control the content, privacy practices, or terms of any third-party website and accept no responsibility for them
• The inclusion of a link to a third-party website does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or partnership
• You access any third-party platform at your own risk and subject to that platform’s own terms and conditions
• We encourage you to read the privacy policy and terms of any external platform before submitting your personal information

Section 13

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time to reflect changes in our programme, legal requirements, or operational practices. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this document and, where appropriate, notify registered participants by email or through our website.

Your continued use of our website or participation in the programme after any changes to these terms constitutes your acceptance of the updated version. We encourage you to review these terms periodically.

Section 14

Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, or if you believe we are operating outside of what is described here and on our website, please contact us directly. We welcome scrutiny and are committed to transparency.

Section 15

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa, including but not limited to the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (ECTA), the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995, and the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act 37 of 2002 (FAIS) where applicable.

Any disputes arising from or relating to these Terms and Conditions shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the South African courts. We will always attempt to resolve any dispute in good faith before resorting to formal legal proceedings.