Wings Global Travel has launched an initiative to create employment opportunities in travel and tourism for unemployed South African youth.
Its Travel Academy programme selects graduates from the Thandulwazi Trust, which provides education opportunities for students from Johannesburg public schools, who weren’t placed at universities for further study.
The international travel management company which serves niche industries where travel and mobility are critical to business was founded in South Africa by Tony Sofianos in 1992. It has 25 wholly-owned regional operations spanning North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Wings Global Travel South Africa MD Kevin Lomax said: “More than a third of South Africa’s population is unemployed but that figure rises to over 60% for working-age people up to the age of 24. Most learnerships focus on people who have found university places. We are aiming at people who have already worked hard to improve their life chances, but who didn’t have the resources to get into higher education.”
The company has created 25 learnerships for students to participate in a ten-week course between September and October to equip them with corporate travel knowledge and skills. The course was developed with Dr Eric Albertini from Future Fit Academy and will be delivered by Wings and Future Fit staff. Graduates will receive certificates to use in order to further their education and apply for jobs.
Wings plans to create placements for eight graduates from the course in administration, consulting, and sales support roles and hopes to help the other students find work in its supply network.
