Bringing AI closer to home: preparing rural youth for the future of work through the 'AI Acceleration Programme'

The intensive five-day programme is designed for young people aged between 18-34 years who have matric and a basic computer knowledge. The recruited participants are then introduced to AI fundamentals, prompt engineering, generative AI and responsible use of AI, while also developing workplace-readiness, communication and new career skills like digital marketing. 

The programme also incorporates the Google AI Essentials through Coursera, giving the recruited participants an opportunity to leave with both practical experience and recognized digital credentials.

As AI continues to change how people work, learn and communicate, access to digital skills is becoming increasingly crucial. It is a known fact that the rural youth has limited access and opportunities to this rapidly emerging technology, which is why the Good Work Foundation (GWF) is partnering withCAPACITI to bridge the gap. 

CAPACITI is a skills development and talent organization focused on preparing young people for opportunities in this economy. Its core mission in prepping the youth includes learnerships, internships, workplace experience, digital learning, skills innovation and reskilling initiatives. 

Through AI skills accelerator, CAPACITI provides young unemployed South Africans with practical exposure to AI and digital tools that are increasingly relevant in the workplace today. The partnership with Good Work Foundation brings these future-focused skills into the rural learning environment, combining CAPACITI’s expertise in digital skills development with GWF’s established learning infrastructure, community relationships and alumni network.

As Fumani Khosa, Alumni Support Network Coordinator at Good Work Foundation, the partnership is more than simply teaching young people how to use AI: “Talent is not limited by geography, but opportunity often is.”

For Mr Khosa, creating access to AI education is about changing how young people see themselves and their possibilities. “A young person sitting in a rural community should be able to see themselves as a participant in the digital economy, not someone watching it happen from a distance.”

The AI Skills Acceleration Programme also connects with an important part of GWF’s wider work: Alumni Connect. 

Alumni Connect is a GWF platform that maintains long-term relationship with graduates after they have completed their initial programmes. Rather than viewing graduation as the end of a learner’s journey, GWF sees it as the beginning of an ongoing relationship. Through Alumni Connect, graduates remain connected to employment opportunities, further training, upskilling, mentorship, entrepreneurship opportunities and other initiatives that support their personal and professional growth. 

Fumani Khosa’s role as Alumni Support Network Coordinator is centered on strengthening this relationship with GWF graduates and creating opportunities for continued learning, skills development, mentorship and personal growth. 

Alumni Connect has also played a role in connecting the GWF alumni to the AI skills Accelerated programme by sharing the opportunity through alumni networks and communication channels, encouraging applications and supporting the process. Therefore the relationship does not have to end when the five-day programme ends. 

The programme received 318 applications, of which 312 were GWF alumni. 

The goal is not to simply teach participants how to use the latest AI tools but it’s about giving the confidence to understand the technology, experiment with it, question its outputs and apply it responsibly. 

Participants explore how AI can assist with research, everyday life, content creation and problem-solving, while developing workplace skills needed to navigate this era of digital economy, and walk away with a Google AI Essentials certificate. 

An important part of the programme is responsible use of AI.

As AI becomes more accessible, knowing how to use it is only one part of the equation. Young people also need to understand how to evaluate information, think critically and recognize when human judgement remains essential. 

“We should not wait until young people enter the workspace before introducing them to these technologies. We need to give them the confidence and practical understanding to use AI responsibly and effectively while they are still learning and preparing for their careers.” - Fumani Khosa

The vision extends beyond a single five-day training programme. The aim is to encourage a culture of continuous learning, where young people and alumni can continue experimenting with AI and finding ways to apply it in their different fields. Those possibilities stretch across industries, from hospitality and conservation to IT, education, business and entrepreneurship.

“The AI Acceleration programme was very educational and now I have the confidence to be part of the future. I did the programme and received my certificate. I am very grateful for the opportunity.”  Says Sanele Mkhabela, a Bridging Year Academy alumni

Good Work Foundation, together with its partners, is helping the rural youth move from simply hearing about AI to understanding it, using it and imagining where it could take them. 

Because the future of work is changing, the rural young people deserve to be a part of that future.