A successful South African educational programme which equips teenagers with maritime skills while they are still at school has been shortlisted for an international award.

The Simon’s Town-based Lawhill Maritime Studies programme, which was pioneered in the mid-90s, has not only consistently improved the employment prospects of hundreds of young South Africans leaving school each year, but it has also demonstrated the value and potential of partnerships between the private sector and an educational institution in addressing one of South Africa’s most pressing social issues, namely youth unemployment and poverty.

According to 2011 statistics provided by Stats SA, approximately a third of South Africa’s current estimated population of 50.59 million is aged between five and 19. Twenty-four percent of these – more than five million – are aged between 15 and 19.

Brian Ingpen, Head of the Lawhill Maritime Centre, says the high number of South African school leavers versus the limited number of available employment opportunities emphasises the importance of establishing more, innovative, industry-funded educational partnerships and curricula which not only prepare young people for employment both locally and abroad, but which also encourage entrepreneurial thinking.

An estimated 42 percent of young South Africans aged between 18 and 29 are currently unemployed.

Ingpen says the shortlisting of the Lawhill programme for the 2012 Seatrade ‘Investment in People’ award is “recognition that Lawhill is helping to address the skills shortage in the maritime industry by creating opportunities for young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to pursue a career in a growing and important industry.”

“The shortlisting is also a special achievement for the hundreds of students who have passed through the programme since it was founded 17 years ago and for the organisations who have, and continue to, support the programme.”

The Lawhill Maritime Centre is entirely funded by the shipping industry and Safmarine, a pioneer of the Maritime Studies programme, has been one of its most loyal supporters.

“Supporting education by giving our youth the skills and opportunities they need for a fair chance to succeed in life is not only a priority in a country such as South Africa (where more than 50% of the population is under 25), but particularly important considering South Africa’s current high rate of unemployment which is the main reason an estimated 40% to 50% of South Africans live in poverty,” says Safmarine Southern Africa Cluster Manager, Jonathan Horn.

At 24,9%, South Africa’s official rate of unemployment is among the highest in the world.

According to Safmarine CEO, Grant Daly, “The success of the Lawhill programme is yet another example of Safmarine’s ‘sustainable partnership’ approach, an approach we don’t only apply to our business and our relationships with customers, but also to our dealings with local communities around the world.

“As such, we are delighted that this programme which has helped so many young South Africans find meaningful and productive employment, has once again received international recognition.” The Lawhill programme won a Lloyds List ‘Salute to Youth and Training’ Award in 1999.

Safmarine – a shipping brand which originated in South Africa and which is now in 130 countries around the world – is also a former winner of a Seatrade award. In 1995 Safmarine won a Seatrade award for its innovative ‘Containers in the Community’ programme, a CSI programme which celebrates its 20th anniversary in July 2012.

The winners of the 2012 Seatrade ‘Investment in People’ award will be announced at a gala function in London’s Guildhall on May 14, 2012.

Photo: Former Lawhill Maritime Centre student Tyrone Campbell is currently at sea with Safmarine