E742K FOR GRADUATE TRAINEE, INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

EZULWINI – Standard Bank Eswatini has committed E742 000 towards developing a comprehensive graduate trainee and internship programme for 2024/2025.

According to the bank’s Head of People and Culture, Bongiwe Hlophe, this will equip young graduates with the skills, knowledge and opportunities that they need to thrive in today’s dynamic job market. Hlophe highlighted that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Graduate Trainee initiative and the USAID Dreams Project programmes are aimed at reducing unemployment in Eswatini. She noted that the estimated youth unemployment rate is approximately 51 per cent and prevailing economic inequality is of great concern to the bank.She said, therefore they recognise that it is their collective responsibility to leverage their resources and expertise to create meaningful change.

“We believe in the power of education and training as a catalyst for economic empowerment,” she said. “We remain optimistic that these partnerships will not only provide essential training and mentorship but also foster a culture of support and empowerment for Eswatini’s next generation of leaders,” Hlophe said.  She said they also want to contribute to bridging the gap between education and employment, ensuring that the talent in Eswatini is recognised and nurtured, regardless of background. She said the legacy of this programme is not just about creating jobs; it is about transforming the future of a country.

“We would like to see a future where every graduate, regardless of their circumstances, has access to the resources and opportunities that they need to pursue their dreams,” she said.
Hlophe said together with UNDP and USAID, they could reduce inequality and build a more inclusive economy that benefits all. She highlighted that in 2022, they started on a journey alongside USAID and its implementing partners, where they committed to a three-year MoU for the empowerment of women and girls through the USAID Dreams Project Job Readiness initiative.

She said by the end of 2024, they will have invested E550 000 in the project and welcomed almost 50 young women, over three years, for successful internship tenures.
“We are proud to say that we have also employed, on a permanent basis, some of the young women who have been a part of the Dreams Project internship programme,” she said.
Hlophe highlighted that the UNDP graduate trainee programme was in its first intake, and they have already seen the impact of the graduates within the bank.

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