Khayelitsha has opened another skills training centre to empower its community and people living in the surrounding communities.
Mfesane Skills Training Centre was officially opened last week Friday at Noluthando Schools for the Deaf in Site B.
Speakers described the centre as a stepping stone to the future. Part of the training skills that can be obtained from the centre is bricklaying, welding, plastering, health training, child and youth care centre.
Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson Ndithini Tyhido expressed his gratitude to the visionary leadership of the centre and described it as adding value to the community of Khayelitsha as a whole. “Skills are what we need to develop in the area. In Khayelitsha we have a very high unemployment rate and we believe by opening this centre, it provides necessary skills to the community,” said Tyhido.
He added that as the forum they are endorsing every centre or an organisation that is coming to Khayelitsha to empower the community in order to improve its economy.
Mfesane Skills Training Centre training manager Khayakazi Mdunyelwa said the centre is for training and development.
She said it is part of the three pillars that they have to alleviate poverty in the disadvantaged communities which includes care and support of children, youth and families and also community healthcare services.
“We are appealing to the community to utilise it in an effort to empower themselves with skills. In order to address inequality and economic marginalisation within South African communities, the Expanded Public Works Programme was created. Within this strategy to help alleviate poverty the community works programme aims to help build employment within the most marginalised communities,” she said. Mdunyelwa said the benefits of training and development programmes include the upskilling within a field of expertise and a sense of self-worth and empowerment.