Empowering young people remains a priority for logistics and travel recruitment agency Lee Botti & Associates. Founder and director of the company, Lee Botti, launched the Ithuba programme 13 years ago, and since then, over 14 000 learners from previously disadvantaged areas have benefited from the initiative.“We started Ithuba in 2012 as part of the company’s 35th anniversary,” said Botti, who identified a need to prepare high school learners for entering the job market. “The programme targets Grade 11 and Grade 12 students from townships. The Iziko Museum provides a training facility, and we arrange two buses each month to transport learners to the sessions. After completing the three-hour training, they also get a tour of the museum.”Now Media, the parent company of Freight News, sponsors Ithuba by printing all the programme's booklets. These booklets serve as valuable resources for the students, offering them information and guidance after they have completed the course.“The workshop covers the basics – where to look for jobs, how to respond to an advert, how to draw up a CV, and how to conduct oneself in an inter v iew,” said Botti, highlighting that the course was highly interactive. “We are not an NGO, but we’ve grown the programme over the years because we strongly believe that Ithuba provides practical support to these young people as they navigate the job market. With 47 years in recruitment, we know what makes candidates placeable in commerce, and Ithuba aims to equip these learners with some of the critical skills they need.”Botti also emphasised that donations from companies and industry-related clubs were vital to keeping the programme going. “We have to empower our young people, ensuring they have the necessary skills to enter the job market,” she said. “It has been heart-warming to see schools return year after year, as they have found this workshop to be beneficial for their learners.”
