Last updated September 2025
In a world where jobs are scarce and degrees alone aren’t enough, Taking Care of Business (TCB), a South African social enterprise is helping young people build the skills they actually need — to work, to earn, and to thrive.
In South Africa, millions of young people between the ages of 16 and 30 are caught in the trap of unemployment, underemployment, or jobs with no prospects. According to Stats SA, Currently, nearly half of South African youth (15–34) — approximately 45 % — are not in employment, education, or training. For this generation, traditional education is no longer a guarantee of economic opportunity. But one organisation is flipping the script on youth skills development — and seeing real results.
Taking Care of Business (TCB), an award-winning non-profit with 15 years of experience in economic empowerment, is proving that skills development can — and must — look different. Through its Reskill programme, TCB is equipping youth and unemployed adults with entrepreneurial thinking, practical life skills, and the confidence to build sustainable livelihoods.
“We’re not just training people to find work,” says Tracey Chambers, CEO and co-founder of TCB. “We’re training people to create work — for themselves and their communities.”
The circular economy meets skills for life
TCB’s Reskill programme emerged from years of successful on-the-ground training of thousands of informal entrepreneurs through their flagship programmes, Resell, Repair and Remake. These Enterprise Development programmes have been running for 15 years and helped thousands of unemployed South Africans access the economy, start small business and develop crucial life skills for financial and social independence. Recognising that these methods could benefit far more people, Reskill was launched to help other organisations — from NGOs to corporates — train youth and adults in the skills they truly need.
In the past year alone, Reskill has trained nearly 2,000 people, including:
- 947 individuals in Me & My Money, a financial literacy course that teaches budgeting, debt management, and planning for future stability.
- 500+ youth in Digital Skills for Work, covering basic computer literacy, online safety, and digital job readiness.
- Hundreds more in Entrepreneurship Training, Business & Selling Skills, and Life Skills — all designed to be practical, empowering, and relevant to young people navigating South Africa’s informal and digital economy.
Courses are short, interactive, and delivered in local languages where possible. Every training is rooted in TCB’s “Head, Heart, and Hands” approach: building the knowledge (head), confidence and resilience (heart), and real-world skills (hands) to make success possible — even in tough environments.
It’s not just about skills. It’s about transformation.
What sets TCB apart is its commitment to developing response-ability — the personal capacity to act, adapt, and respond to challenges.
“We believe that who you are is just as important as what you know,” says Chambers. “Many of our participants have experienced trauma, poverty, or failure. So we don’t just teach skills — we rebuild confidence, mindset, and self-belief.”
This holistic approach is particularly important for young people who’ve been excluded from the formal education system or the job market. Instead of focusing only on hard skills, Reskill integrates:
- Self-awareness and emotional regulation
- Decision-making and critical thinking
- Communication and teamwork
- Purpose-driven personal development
The result? Youth who leave the programme are more confident, more employable, and more likely to pursue self-employment or further learning. Many go on to join TCB’s longer-term small business development programmes or become peer trainers in their communities.
What sets TCB apart is its commitment to developing response-ability — the personal capacity to act, adapt, and respond to challenges.
“We believe that who you are is just as important as what you know,” says Chambers. “Many of our participants have experienced trauma, poverty, or failure. So we don’t just teach skills — we rebuild confidence, mindset, and self-belief.”
This holistic approach is particularly important for young people who’ve been excluded from the formal education system or the job market. Instead of focusing only on hard skills, Reskill integrates:
- Self-awareness and emotional regulation
- Decision-making and critical thinking
- Communication and teamwork
- Purpose-driven personal development
The result? Youth who leave the programme are more confident, more employable, and more likely to pursue self-employment or further learning. Many go on to join TCB’s longer-term small business development programmes or become peer trainers in their communities.
What to look for in a training provider
If you’re a young person — or a youth organisation — looking for the right training programme, not all options are created equal. The best training providers do more than just offer a certificate. Look for programmes that are practical, relatable, and responsive to your real-life challenges. A good provider will:
- Offer short, focused training with real-world application (not just theory)
- Include life and personal development skills alongside technical training
- Provide post-training support like mentorship, peer networks, or referral pathways
- Adapt content to your language, literacy, and learning style
- Value your voice and experience, not just your attendance
Programmes that combine skills, mindset, and ongoing support — like TCB’s Reskill — are the ones that create lasting transformation, not just short-term motivation.
Youth-powered futures: A scalable model for South Africa
TCB’s Reskill programme is already working with over 25 partners, including Food Lovers Market, RLabs, and The Maharishi Institute, to bring scalable training into communities, workplaces, and innovation hubs. It’s a model designed for rapid rollout and high impact. Participants are reporting higher incomes, stronger money management, and a renewed sense of possibility.
“We’re unlocking human potential,” says Chambers. “And when young people believe they have something to offer — that’s when the economy starts to change.”
Want to bring Reskill to your organisation or community?
Visit www.tcb.org.za or email reskill@tcb.org.za for more information