Spier Shines A Light On Hope For The Future In Youth Month And Beyond

The future begins now, and it lies in the hands of young people who have the opportunity to shape the fate of our planet and their own. As we mark June as Youth Month in South Africa, the challenges can seem daunting for this generation—especially when considering the alarmingly high unemployment rate for those under 34 in our country: a staggering 45,5%.

It isn’t all doom and gloom, however. Spier not only makes great wine and is devoted to sustainability, but is firmly committed to supporting young people in its community and equipping them to forge their way in the world. From art and entrepreneurship to regenerative farming and ecological restoration, Spier’s Growing For Good projects and partnerships create a ripple effect of lasting and meaningful impact.

‘Youth unemployment is a huge challenge, and by partnering with various organisations, we aim to empower young people,’ says Social Impact Manager, Joylene Cornelius. ‘The goal is to provide as many young individuals as possible with practical work experience, develop their marketable skills, and unlock routes to employment opportunities.’

Bringing about lasting positive change is not about quick fixes or doing it alone; no one can reasonably expect that of the adults of tomorrow. ‘They need guidance - and hope - now, when it matters most,’ says Cornelius. ‘This takes creativity, collaboration and compassion so Spier’s efforts today are about ensuring a resilient, healthy and thriving future for the generations ahead.’

It’s never too soon to begin this crucial work, so Spier’s engagement starts when it matters most: at an early age. Supporting the Lynedoch Community School by sponsoring a multidisciplinary team of ‘Community Keepers’ ensures these dedicated professionals provide comprehensive socio-emotional support through counselling, therapy, assessments, and life skills programmes. They also offer targeted educator support and workshops, as well as parenting workshops, ensuring local children and their teachers have the best chance to realise their full potential.

As these young minds grow, Spier aims to support them every step of the way. This year, in support of the Sustainability Institute’s youth holiday programme, which includes high school learners from local schools and focuses on career exploration, young learners will be hosted at the farm. They will meet professionals from different sectors of Spier’s business, including the social media manager, operations director, and winemaker, providing a firsthand look at the diverse career opportunities a winery like Spier can offer.

It’s this kind of investment in early learning, but also in the creation of job opportunities that Spier believes is fundamental in creating a healthy society and growing economic activity. Spier provides internship opportunities for students pursuing careers in agriculture, winemaking, and viticulture. This is part of the broader engagement with students; aspiring winemakers and viticultural students from Stellenbosch University, Elsenburg, and SKOP are hosted regularly on the farm. Their experiences on the farm provide them with hands-on learning experiences about Spier’s approaches to winemaking and agriculture.

The winemaking team mentors graduates during the harvest season, imparting invaluable knowledge and practical experience to the next generation of winemakers. In addition to these initiatives, Spier has two cellar workers on learnerships, and sponsors four disabled bursary students in post-matric vocational programmes.

Through Yes for Youth (YES), Spier provides young people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds with valuable work experience for one year. This programme allows participants to gain workplace skills in various departments across Spier. At the end of their experience, participants not only gain a CV and a reference letter but also receive access to YES's digital platform, which assists them in seeking future employment opportunities. Currently, 14 young people are participating in the programme across various departments, including the sales team, Picknickery, wine-tasting facilities, cellar maintenance, winemaking operations, farms, nursery, the Tree-preneurs initiative and Nooitgedacht Farm.

Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA) takes a similar approach, focusing specifically on education and employment opportunities within the wine industry. Students gain invaluable on-the-job training at Spier, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

Additionally, Spier collaborates with Harambee, an initiative that sources, trains, and places unemployed young people from previously disadvantaged backgrounds into their first jobs.

It’s certainly not a simple journey, but with each step, our goal is to mould the leaders of tomorrow and create a brighter future for all, one young person at a time.