Young people in Limpopo have been urged to take part in youth service programmes which will develop their skills, open up job opportunities and contribute to the well-being of their communities.

Speaking at the founding of the provincial youth service Tuesday, Limpopo Premier Sello Moloto said through volunteering, the youth stood to acquire much needed skills and experience in various fields of work.

"High on our agenda for youth development are, correctly, the questions of skills development, job creation and poverty alleviation."

The Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (AsgiSA), said the premier, and the Provincial Growth Development Strategy had identified skills development as an area needing urgent attention in order to address unemployment and to grow the economy.

Mr Moloto said the skills base of most young South Africans was inadequate to meet the demands of a commodity based, globalising economy, which was mainly service and knowledge driven.

The reality was that, without these skills, many young people would not be able to fill vacancies that required specialised knowledge and expertise, he said.

In this light, the establishment of the provincial youth service was an addition to other existing platforms for youth support and development, already in place to address the country's skills shortage.

Other interventions include internships, learnerships, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), business financing and Youth Advisory Services.

The premier said the youth service programme offered a wide variety of opportunities for young people to consider and is particularly aimed at "out of school youth" and unemployed graduates.

This target group stands to acquire experience and valuable skills, in preparation for their integration into the economy.

"For instance, through this youth service programme, the youth can help in the renovation of schools and community centres and act as anti-crime ambassadors for the 2010 Fifa World Cup," said Premier Moloto.

Young people could also become facilitators of Adult Basic Education and Training programmes, home based care and work as counselors in HIV and AIDS programmes.

The province has taken steps to ensure that the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are involved in the youth service programme, in order to ensure that the skills acquired can then be formally recognised.