For many South African families, periods that were once marked by anxiety and uncertainty are being reshaped by dignity, purpose and stability — thanks to a social employment initiative implemented by INMED South Africa, in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation through the Social Employment Fund.
Through this programme, INMED South Africa is creating paid, structured work opportunities for unemployed youth, women, older persons and people with disabilities, while simultaneously strengthening local food systems, community infrastructure and climate-smart livelihoods. The initiative delivers immediate income support alongside practical skills that build long-term economic resilience.
Work with dignity, income with purpose
Participants across six provinces are engaged in food gardens, aquaponics systems and education support services. In return, they earn a regular income and gain hands-on experience that improves employability beyond the programme itself.
For Phetile Phosisi, who works at a community food production site in Soweto, the impact has been life-changing.
“For the first time in years, I am earning my own income,” she says. “I no longer have to borrow or make excuses. I worked, and I was paid with dignity.”
Similar stories are emerging across INMED South Africa’s implementation sites, where participants speak of being able to plan, contribute to their households and participate fully in family and community life.
From exclusion to contribution
Unlike short-term relief efforts, INMED South Africa’s social employment model is designed for dual impact: immediate income for participants and lasting value for communities.
Setlhako Barry from Orange Farm, who had been unemployed for years before joining the programme, describes a fundamental shift.
“Before this programme, I felt useless,” he says. “Now I wake up with purpose. I am learning how to grow food, how to work as a team and how to plan my future.”
Participants receive training, mentorship and exposure to climate-smart agriculture and food systems skills, equipping them with tools that extend well beyond the duration of the programme.
Restoring pride and rebuilding confidence
For Bianco Swartz and Maretta Agenbaght from Pella in the Northern Cape, the change is deeply personal.
“We are no longer asking for help,” they say. “We are giving. We can host our families and feel proud again.”
In the Free State, Caroline Bulane describes the programme as grounding and transformative.
“Being part of the social employment programme has given me purpose. I appreciate small wins, value community support and feel proud of how far I’ve come.”
Real skills, real income, real change
INMED South Africa’s implementation of the Social Employment Fund reflects its long-standing commitment to community-driven development, food security and inclusive economic participation. Working closely with the IDC, the organisation ensures that social employment translates into tangible outcomes — real skills, real income and real change.
As South Africa continues to face high unemployment and rising living costs, the impact of social employment reaches far beyond short-term support. For participants, the programme is restoring confidence, rebuilding hope and laying the foundation for long-term economic inclusion.
For thousands of families supported through INMED South Africa’s social employment initiative, life is no longer defined by scarcity, but by dignity, contribution and possibility.
