Mastercard Foundation Associates Program

Through the YES Youth Portal powered by SkillQuest, young people can:

Join the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program candidate pool
Apply for Mastercard Foundation Associates Program opportunities
Access work-readiness support and learning content
Build workplace skills and confidence
Connect with employers offering 12-month paid work placements

The Mastercard Foundation Associates Program equips young people with the opportunities and support they need to access quality work experience.

Submitting your application to join the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program means joining a pool of candidates for potential opportunities. It does not mean that you have already applied for a job or secured placement.

Once you have joined the candidate pool, you will need to apply separately for available job opportunities that match your skills, qualifications and preferred location. YES may also share relevant opportunities with eligible candidates via email, with direct links to apply.

Employers make the final recruitment and hiring decisions based on:

Skills and qualifications
Role requirements
Location
Availability of opportunities
Interview outcomes

Even if you are not placed immediately, you can continue building your readiness, applying for opportunities and engaging with SkillQuest - YES’s digital platform that connects young people to work opportunities, skills development and work-readiness support.

To be eligible for Mastercard Foundation Associates Program in South Africa specifically, you must:

Be between 18 and 34 years old
Be unemployed
Hold at least a diploma or first-degree qualification
Be a South African citizen as defined for B-BBEE purposes
Be Black as defined under B-BBEE
Not have previously participated in a YES programme
Preference may be given to alumni of Mastercard Foundation-supported programmes such as Anzisha Prize, CorpsAfrica, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Skoll Emerging Leaders Initiative, YALI, Youth Think Tank, Zambezi Prize, etc.
Youth living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Eligible countries include:

Namibia
Botswana
Zimbabwe
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Zambia

To be eligible for Mastercard Foundation Associates Program in the above Southern African countries, you must:

Be between 18 and 34 years old
Be unemployed
Hold at least a diploma or first-degree qualification
Preference may be given to alumni of Mastercard Foundation-supported programmes such as Anzisha Prize, CorpsAfrica, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Skoll Emerging Leaders Initiative, YALI, Youth Think Tank, Zambezi Prize, etc.
Youth living with disabilities, as well as refugees or displaced youth, are encouraged to apply.

What happens after I apply?

Employers review applications, shortlist candidates, invite youth to interviews and may request additional information or checks. YES supports the process, but employers make the final hiring decisions.

What happens if I am placed?

If you are successfully placed, you may receive onboarding support, access to the YES One App, digital learning opportunities, monthly check-ins, surveys, development activities and workplace mentorship.

What if I am not placed immediately?

You can continue building your profile, completing learning content and applying for opportunities on SkillQuest. Joining the Mastercard Foundation Associates Program candidate pool does not guarantee placement, but staying active helps improve your readiness and visibility for suitable opportunities.

What support is available?

Youth may be invited to work-readiness training, interview preparation, orientation sessions and other support activities, including PREP2SOAR sessions – YES’s work-readiness programme that helps young people prepare for the workplace, build confidence and strengthen the skills they need to succeed in their careers.

Before You Apply: Key Information

Who can apply in South Africa:

Who can apply in Southern Africa

Your Application Journey in 5 steps

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Register and apply now: South Africa

Register and apply now: Southern Africa

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