Caterpillar and Barloword – Making Sustainable Progress Possible in South Africa

It is mid morning on a warm, sunny day in May and the sound of traditional African songs can be heard in Boksburg, South Africa. Dozens of smiling students from Saint Anthony's Catholic school and technical training center are singing on stage to welcome guests who are celebrating a new program that will significantly enhance employment opportunities for young South Africans.

The program, Equip Youth, is a partnership between Saint Anthony's and the International Youth Foundation (IYF) that will provide students with practical technical skills in a range of fields such as plumbing, welding, upholstery and bookkeeping.

In 2011 the Caterpillar Foundation pledged $800,000 over three years to the IYF to support this skills program for more than 700 young adults who live in a nation where the unemployment rate for young people is more than 50 percent.

"We must offer programs like this one for young people, which will uplift communities and society as a whole. With support from the Caterpillar Foundation, Cat® dealer Barloworld and the IYF, these students will have the opportunities to change their lives," said Vanessa Pillay, executive director of the center.

Caterpillar and Barloworld, a Cat dealer in South Africa, have a decades-long history supporting Saint Anthony's, which has been educating children in this impoverished area for more than 40 years.

In fact, in addition to a 400,000 rand (approximately $50,000 USD) donation to the training center, Barloworld has also donated a generator set to the center, which suffers regular power outages due to an inconsistent supply from the grid.

"We are so pleased to support this program at Saint Anthony's. Barloworld has a deep commitment to supporting social initiatives that can transform the lives of participants and ultimately improve the standard of living in South Africa," said Terry Dearing, executive director for human resources for Barloworld. 

During lunch break, a tall young man named Joseph approaches some of the Americans who have just toured the center, in part of a ceremony celebrating the new program. With a smile he introduces himself and says he's just about ready to begin his new career.

"I am almost done with my training and I am ready to start my career, it will be a good a life," Joseph said. 

That is another way Caterpillar, and its dealers are making sustainable progress possible for young South Africans like Joseph.