MBDA an approved placement site for National Youth Service Programme.

The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) and Exhibition For A Child NPC (EFC), an appointed implementing partner of the National Youth Development Agency, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the MBDA as an approved placement site for participants in the National Youth Service Programme.

Signed in September 2026, the MOU marks the start of structured youth placements across MBDA owned and managed sites, including the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, St Peter’s Rainbow Village, and the Nelson Mandela Bay Science and Technology Centre.  The placements will cover a diverse range of focus areas, including urban regeneration projects, precinct management, and infrastructure development.

South Africa faces a youth unemployment crisis, with 54.65% of young people aged 18–35 unemployed. Inclusive programmes that remove the most common barriers to entry are essential to ensure young people are exposed to the world of work in meaningful ways. This MOU directly addresses the need for structured, accessible pathways into work, and aligns the MBDA’s regeneration projects with national youth employment priorities.

Young people are often excluded from jobs due to a lack of work experience, a mismatch of skills that don’t align to what the workplace needs, and limited professional and personal networks. Additionally, many young people cannot afford to take on unpaid internships or work experience opportunities, and so are financially excluded. The MBDA will thus work closely with Exhibition For A Child NPC (EFC), which will deploy young people under a stipend agreement. The MBDA will, in turn, provide structured placement sites for these young people, offering mentorship, growth opportunities, and exposure to real development projects.

“Together with our implementing partner, we will ensure that participants gain hands‑on experience,” says Dr Pierre Voges, Interim CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency. “We recognize the critical importance of skills development to build the confidence of young people who are entering the labour market for the first time. Our MOU will enable us to support social impact goals to tackle the systemic exclusion of young people, alongside our infrastructure renewal efforts.”

Mosuli Zito, Chief Executive Officer, Exhibition For A Child NPC echoes these sentiments: “This partnership places young people inside real development work across Nelson Mandela Bay. Participants will gain workplace experience, discipline and confidence, which are exactly what employers look for, while contributing to the regeneration of their own city. We thank the MBDA for opening its sites to the youth of the Metro.”

As an appointed implementing partner of the National Youth Development Agency, Exhibition For A Child NPC (EFC) ensures the programme is delivered with integrity and aligned to the national youth development priorities. The programme’s aim is to build resilience, work readiness skills, confidence and adaptability. Additionally, as young people will be exposed directly to the ongoing work of the MBDA, they will gain practical experience while contributing to the regeneration of Nelson Mandela Bay.