Youth Career Platform VOCO Helping to Tackle Unemployment in South Africa

Getting a hang of the corporate environment has long been a challenge for young people in South Africa. VOCO, a recently launched startup, wants to change this narrative by offering a one-stop platform for career guidance, skills development, and job market integration.

Bridging The Gap in Career Development

Founded this year by Brittany Kaye, VOCO caters to youth aged 13 to 23, providing personalised, AI-driven career advice. The platform goes beyond guidance, connecting users with mentorships, internships, skills training programmes, and even job opportunities. VOCO is partnering with corporations, NGOs, and educational institutions to ensure young people can access practical tools to pursue sustainable careers.

Kaye’s passion for addressing youth unemployment stems from her experience hosting entrepreneurship workshops. “I host entrepreneurship and employment skill workshops on weekends, and the problems we’ve dealt with there inspired VOCO”, she revealed.

“There is a significant gap in personalised career guidance, and linking young people with practical skill-building and then real life work opportunities in South Africa,” Kaye explained. She believes the company can bridge the gap and help young South Africans find fulfilling career paths.

A Promising Start for VOCO

VOCO is only still in its early stages, but the startup has already seen an encouraging response. While its Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is set to launch next year, educational institutions and small businesses are showing interest. “The youth response has also been encouraging, especially with our MVP still getting ready to launch. While we are still in the early phases, the feedback has been very positive, and we’ll work to continually refine the platform based on feedback.”

Is This a Scalable Model for Africa?

VOCO operates on a subscription-based model, offering custom services to small businesses and NGOs. These include applicant tracking systems, recruitment pipelines, and tailored skills development programmes. Although VOCO is currently bootstrapped, it is seeking investment to expand its reach.

The platform’s primary focus remains South Africa, where youth unemployment is among the highest globally. However, its ambitions extend beyond borders. “We have plans to expand into other regions in Africa that face similar challenges, as well as potentially looking into international markets where our model could be adapted. The long-term goal is to create a scalable model that can be replicated in various countries, adjusting to local market needs,” Kaye noted.