Resilience development in the new generation of production mining employees

Abstract

Abstract: This paper proposes that at least as much effort as is placed on technical development of youth, should be placed on values development. In the context of the minerals industry in the developing world and particularly in Africa, the importance of values development is grossly under emphasised. With commodity prices falling and extraction costs soaring it is vital that meaningful and practical effort is made to counter the despondency that accompanies such challenges. As a contribution to such resilience building, the University of Johannesburg Mining Department introduced the “Stairs Project.” This project is a practical way not only of developing physical fitness but also developing personal values of resilience, dedication, commitment, integrity, and many more. Such values are essential if sustainability is to be achieved in the minerals industry during the challenging times currently being experienced. The authors propose that without strong focus on development of resilience of the individual; the resilience and survival of the industry and the economy itself, will be severely threatened. The appropriate time to start such developmental intervention is “yesterday” and in “infancy” but the best we can do is to do it “now” with the “stock of youth” that we have entering the industry