Analysing the Effectiveness of Limpopo CoLab in Upskilling Young Rural Women with Digital Skills in Selected Areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Young rural women lag behind in as far as digital skills are concerned. This makes it difficult for them to access the employment market or create small businesses for themselves. Youth unemployment is very high in the Limpopo Province and in many other parts of the country. It is, therefore, important that the youth, as the marginalised group in socio-economic activities, be equipped with the right skills to navigate the challenging unemployment environment. Hence, this lack of digital skills among these marginalised individuals has prompted the United Nations to urge countries to develop strategies that would close the skills gap. Likewise, South Africa has since developed the National Development Plan and other relevant legislation to address the digital skills gap in the country through the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA). Subsequently, NEMISA created Collaboration Laboratories (CoLabs) with previously disadvantaged universities in the country to execute its mandate. This article analyses the effectiveness of Limpopo CoLab in upskilling young rural women with digital skills for employment opportunities or entrepreneurial activities in selected areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa. A qualitative research approach and document analysis techniques were employed to arrive at plausible conclusions and recommendations. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of Limpopo CoLab as an impactful agent of change, but also recommends that Limpopo CoLab should put more emphasis on digital skills that would enable young women to create their own employment.