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Sinakho Skills Development Centre in Langa, a non-profit organisation (NPO) dedicated to the betterment of people’s lives, is determined to make change in the neighbourhood.
The NPO offers sewing skills to the needy and unemployed people in Langa.
They offer six months training to 20 people and have thus far trained 125 people, with 80% of the trainees going on to start their own businesses.
Founder Nontuthuzelo Pahlana said the NPO was established in 2011 to offer leadership and entrepreneurial skills.
They run the organisation from a shipping container at Guga S’thebe Arts and Cultural Centre.
Pahlana said after conducting a research she realised that a lot of the young people from the area were involved in crime or drugs and alcohol abuse.
“Crime and substance abuse is caused by unemployment, so when we started Sinakho. We wanted to do away with poverty,” she said.
Pahlana said they have plans to expand their projects, but they are currently focusing on sewing and in due course they will deal with other subjects.
They work on leather sewing, food technology, entrepreneurship and business management.
Students are equipped with skills to make patterns and ways to work with fabric. They are also given skills on how to use industry standard machines.
Pahlana said they also give them an opportunity to practise at some of the leading clothing factories in Cape Town.
Pahlana said their aim is to train people to be self-employed.
“After they complete the sewing course we provide them with a tool kit so they can be able to start their own businesses,” she said.
She said their motto at Sinakho is “Learn to Lead and Learn to Enterprise”.
She said they take men from the ages of 18 to 35 but for women there is no age restriction anyone can apply to be part of the course.
Pahlana said they would like to grow Sinakho into a Multi-Purpose Skills Training Centre and for the economy of the township to circulate amongst the residents.
Pahlana said anyone who is interested in joining them can visit them at Guga S’thebe Arts & Cultural Centre.
