Life Choices says that it is a non-profit-organisation that provides the ground for youth to find solutions on their life journey. It is modelled on the principle that young people have unlimited potential and the power within themselves to find solutions to the deep-seated problems within society.

The organisation says that employment has become a hard-won achievement that is only afforded to the very privileged in a time where unemployment runs rampant. This is particularly true for South Africa's youth, who face a record-high unemployment rate of 74.4%, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, it adds.

A challenge that these young people face is being unable to find a job once they graduate, due to their lack of experience, the organisation highlights. The 'experience gap' is faced all over the world, but in South Africa, the need to bridge that gap has become critical to socio-economic survival.

One of the markets that LC Studio is targeting is entrepreneurs seeking MVP services. "These entrepreneurs need to quickly and cost-effectively build their proof of concept to test the market and obtain funding from investors. We offer turnkey solutions to startups while supporting entrepreneurship and developing youth," says Sofia Neves, managing director at Life Choices. 

The studio's internship programme strives to give businesses the opportunity to work with high potential junior developers who can add an edge to their staffing portfolio and diversify their workplace.

Ryan Geel, LC Studio's manager, says, "We cannot just give young South Africans skills and leave them to fend for themselves. Our purpose is predicated on the fact that interns coming from our coding academy are guided and groomed for employment by pushing them into service streams that offer the opportunity to work on real-world projects and gain much-needed experience."

"While nobody has experience when they leave school, youth from underprivileged communities face an added disadvantage in that they don't have the networks that those from more privileged areas have — making it harder for them to secure a foot in the door," says Neves.

"While working in LC Studio, youth gain experience, diversify their skills set and prepare for industry. Through these engagements, they are able to start building their own networks," adds Neves.

According to Nkosinathi Mahlangu, Momentum Metropolitan's youth employment portfolio head, LC Studio has a phenomenal story to tell.

"LC Studio addresses a number of key challenges we currently face as a country. It solves the experience gap while providing youth with the skills they need as we are catapulted into the fourth industrial revolution. It addresses unemployment while supporting the creation of a thriving SME economy," adds Mahlangu.

"If we can teach our young South Africans the importance of being resilient and equipping them with the skills needed to handle the demands of the modern workplace, we can empower them on their own journey to success," says Mahlangu.

"We also call on corporate South Africa to realise its role in addressing this experience gap and encourage companies to engage with LC Studio as a partner in service delivery and to create more opportunities that will allow young people to develop themselves and to add value to the economy of South Africa. This is how we can achieve success together," concludes Mahlangu.

For more information, visit www.lifechoices.co.za. You can also follow Life Choices on Facebook or on Twitter.