Youth Month: Empowering the future, today

June is Youth Month, and South Africa shines a spotlight on its youth – acknowledging their struggles, celebrating their achievements, and amplifying their voices. At AVBOB, we proudly stand with the country in honouring young people not just this month but every day – recognising their vital role in shaping our organisation and society at large.

As a mutual society, AVBOB exists not to serve shareholders but to serve its members: our policyholders and the communities in which they live. This allows AVBOB to reinvest in people and create meaningful opportunities for them. Backed with eight consecutive Top Employer awards, AVBOB has built a reputation as a workplace where talent, including young people, can thrive. 

Creating opportunities for the youth

AVBOB understands the significant challenges that South African youth face, particularly when it comes to unemployment. This informs the learnerships and internships that AVBOB designs to give young people hands-on experience and a foot in the door. We encourage the youth to regularly visit our website and follow our social media platforms to stay informed about these opportunities and about permanent job openings available nationwide.

Empowering young entrepreneurs

Beyond employment, AVBOB is also passionate about entrepreneurship. Through our Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Programme, we support small and growing businesses, helping them access the tools they need to succeed, such as funding, market access and skills development. This initiative doesn’t just help individual entrepreneurs; it strengthens the broader economy.

Launched in 2021, the ESD Programme focuses on collaboration and long-term impact. Through partnerships with inspiring entrepreneurs like Neo Monareng (founder of Gadifele Communications) and Sibusiso Sibanyoni (founder of Kandee.co), AVBOB contributes to offering young business owners benefit not only from access to markets and infrastructure but also from vital business expertise and continuous professional guidance.

Introducing Groundbreakers: A youth employment solution

In 2025, AVBOB introduced an exciting new initiative under the ESD Programme, specifically designed to address youth unemployment. The Groundbreakers initiative creates short-term job opportunities for young people aged 18-35 by placing them at AVBOB Funeral Service branches, starting with three in Mahikeng, Temba and Tzaneen, respectively. 

Their role involves assisting with essential grave services such as grave opening and closing, grave site cleaning, and other related grave site services in the surrounding communities. Importantly, they will be remunerated for their contributions, while gaining work experience, community respect and economic participation. 

The Groundbreakers initiative demonstrates how business-led solutions can drive meaningful change in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent work and economic growth. AVBOB is committed to advancing job creation, empowering local talent, and fostering inclusive economic participation that aligns with the SDGs, reflecting AVBOB’s values of building resilient communities and driving long-term socio-economic impact.

At AVBOB, Youth Month is more than just a commemoration – it’s a call to action. Whether it’s through employment, enterprise support, or empowerment initiatives like Groundbreakers, AVBOB remains committed to investing in the future of South Africa: its youth.