genesis incubation hub
Incubating youth-owned startups to generate income and employ more local youth.
WELCOME TO THE SOZO FOUNDATION ECOSYSTEM
THE SOZO FOUNDATION ECOSYSTEM MODEL
This is our journey map where youth employability transformation takes place and how we create pathways to youth employment.
Ecosystem definition/: a biological community of interacting and interconnected living organisms in their physical environment.
Here’s the narrative:
The Sozo Foundation Ecosystem Our youth development model has evolved over twelve years. It is still well-serving and developing. Our impact goal has remained unchanged and simple; develop youth employability that leads to meaningful employment. Just as any healthy ecosystem has an inflow and outflow that enables life to thrive, so we have an inflow and outflow philosophy. We don’t “keep kids busy and off the streets”.
We offer a variety of inflow opportunities to youth who find themselves at various stages of life and in different states of mind and heart. Once you become part of the ecosystem there are many opportunities for growth, interaction, and movement. This is where the ecosystem does the work itself. We realize youth developmental states are uniquely different and therefore different youth will exit the ecosystem at different stages.
It remains core to our vision that every youth eventually enters the biosphere of further education, training, and employment. We create pathways to youth employment and our most critical nutrient within the ecosystem is our culture of unconditional love.
OUR ECOSYSTEM ORGANISMS
from ancient greek /organon/ – an instrument or tool for acquiring knowledge
We are equipping and raising up the leaders of tomorrow by transforming the lives of learners and their families. We are breaking the cycle of poverty by preparing individuals for further study and future employment.
We are providing opportunities for NEET youth to learn vocational and job readiness skills. Through an ever-expanding training portfolio, we empower youth with the necessary tools to become employed and generate sustainable income.
Through one-on-one mentorship and coaching, we are supporting youth-owned micro-businesses to create local employment. Our Genesis Incubation Hub provides an inspirational space for internet access, business training and workshops to increase the chance of success and growth of micro businesses.
We are engaging youth with advanced skills training internships and on-the-job training in the industry through social enterprises. We aim to see youth employed and trained with the skills and networks for a lifetime of work.
OUR ECOSYSTEM NUTRIENTS
/ˈnjuːtrɪənt/
plural noun: nutrients – the substance that provides nourishment essential for the maintenance of life and for growth.
Our Creed
Our Vibe
Our Why
Our Creed
In this tribe, we choose to love unconditionally and humble ourselves. The Sozo Foundation pursues purpose and work with excellence. We champion a courageous space for authenticity and connection. We listen, trust and learn from each other. We welcome feedback and choose an attitude of gratitude. In this tribe, we accept that we are loved and we belong.
We aim to see every young person become employable by accessing an opportunity through education or training on a pathway to youth employment. The Sozo Foundation sees a generation of employed youth changing the narrative of their own community through becoming positive economic contributors in society.
Our Vibe
Our mission is simple:
- Develop youth employability
- Create pathways to youth employment
- Ensure that every young person is cared for and equipped with social, emotional and mental resilience skills.
For our work to be sustainable for years to come, forming deep and lasting relationships with community members is essential. This is why the Sozo Foundation will always have a community based footprint in Cape Town. We are part of the Vrygrond community and the Vrygrond community is part of us.
Our Why
South Africa has the highest youth unemployment rate globally with 77.4% of young people between 15 and 24 years old unemployed.
With over 60% of the SA population under the age of 35 we are seeing unemployed youth Mom’s and Dad’s raising children into homes where the basic human act of WORK is not modeled. If it is not modeled, it is not seen and does not exist.
If this cycle is not interrupted, we could see a generation where unemployment is the norm and becomes a culture. The Cape Flats is an area of extremely high crime, violence, substance addiction, neglect, trauma and abuse all playing out within a systemic culture of gangsterism.
