'Write Your Future' is being delivered in partnership with Social Coding, a Non-Profit Company (NPC), which helps under-resourced communities to leverage technology for a better future.

First launched in 2017, the Lancôme Write Your Future brand social responsibility programme has empowered more than 150 000 young women worldwide. These include the beneficiaries of the Write Your Future Scholarship Fund, as well as the beneficiaries of the many learning, entrepreneurship and mentorship programmes funded by Lancôme.

"While adult literacy in South Africa is fairly high, the digital gap is still a notable issue and is a significant barrier to entry into the digital economy," says Yumnaa Waja, general manager of L'Oréal South Africa's luxury products division.

"'Write your Future' is specifically designed to ensure that young women have the skills necessary to compete successfully in today's world of work and to be both personally and financially independent," adds Waja.

According to the 2022 JCSE-IITPSA ICT Skills Survey, South Africa still has a critical shortage of ICT skills, posing a significant threat to the country's ability to benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The survey, which is conducted annually by Wits University's Joburg Centre for Software Engineering and the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa, found that the digital skills gap is still so substantial that organisations are struggling to fill thousands of vacancies.

Critically, this means that a large cohort of South Africa's youth is unable to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy.

'Write Your Future', which aims to address this issue, will form part of L'Oréal South Africa's broader sustainability programme.

"Lancôme has always stood for and with women by helping them to develop into the skilled, confident and happy individuals they want to become," says Waja. "With 'Write Your Future', we will be working with Social Coding to identify the specific needs of young women in rural communities around the country and to provide them with both the digital education and support they need to realise their full potential."

"And, as around 38% of households in South Africa are headed by women, there will be a very real impact for communities and society as a whole," Waja adds.

Social Coding uses digital literacy and technology tools such as coding, robotics and virtual reality (VR) to expand socio-economic inclusion among young people living in rural communities and to help them use these digital skills to break the cycle of poverty and build successful careers.

"We prioritise digital inclusion so that young people from rural areas can have a better chance of completing their schooling, furthering their education and gaining access to meaningful work," says founder Thembiso Magajana. "We are committed to ensuring that every young person, no matter what their background or circumstances, has the chance to learn, grow and thrive in the digital age."

Waja says that the aim of 'Write Your Future' is to bridge some of the barriers that prohibit youth from becoming active, engaged, productive and independent citizens.

"On completion of the programme, participants will be equipped with a higher certificate in information technology. They will then have the opportunity to participate in an eight-month internship. With Social Coding, we want to empower every woman to be the author of her own destiny," concludes Waja. 

For more information, visit www.loreal.com. You can also follow L'Oréal South Africa on Facebook, X or on Instagram.