Startup Picnic Academy, SP Foundation, and various Public Benefit Organizations are launching an initiative to reduce unemployment by offering rapid skills courses for young people in townships and villages. With a donation of as little as R50, supporters can help fund these courses and empower participants to earn an income within weeks of completion.

Empowering Youth with Practical Skills

The rapid courses cover a wide range of practical skills, including hairdressing, sneaker cleaning, nail technology, barbering, electronics repair, business launch, job readiness, and more. These courses are designed to provide immediate, tangible benefits, equipping young people with the skills they need to enter the job market and start earning a sustainable income.

Community Impact

Currently, over 100 young people are on the database, eager to receive these life-changing skills. The focus areas include Mamelodi, Jane Furse, Wattville, and Siyabuswa. Since 2016, Startup Picnic Academy has successfully run training programs in collaboration with both NGOs and corporations, such as SOS Children’s Village, Moonshot Pirates, DHL, and Standard Bank.

How to Help

For more information and to make a donation, visit Startup Picnic Academy's donation page or donate via Back A Buddy. Aspiring students can sign up on the database.

Affordable and Accessible Education

To ensure the courses remain affordable, most are unaccredited. However, with larger donations, accredited courses can be arranged.

Transparency and Accountability

Startup Picnic Academy has partnered with SP Foundation and other PBOs to manage donations for this program. The SP Foundation is dedicated to raising bursary funds and curating youth development programs. All donations will be audited, and the partner organizations are able to issue Section 18A tax rebate certificates to donors.

Contact and Appreciation

For further details, please contact Startup Picnic Academy directly. All donors will receive an appreciation certificate. Join in empowering young people with real skills that can take them anywhere in the country and beyond.

Media Contact:

For further information, please contact Bongiwe Hlophe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By supporting this initiative, donors are helping to create sustainable job opportunities and a brighter future for young people in communities. Thank you for your generosity.