At least 50 unemployed youths from Phomolong, Club 2000, Homelite and Homevale, as well as Platfontein, have started to benefitted from Why Sala’s 12-month building, civil and construction learnership, which was launched on Monday (05/11).
The participants first had to undergo induction training on Thursday (01/11).
They will receive training on brick-laying and carpentry, and for this work they will earn a stipend.
According to Sonja Faywers, the co-ordinator of the programme, funding is being awarded by the Construction Education and Training Authority (Ceta) through its discretion grant.
She said the need for the programme had been identified after the realisation was made of how unemployment continued to shift the focus of the youth.
She said her experience of working with the Platfontein community had also motivated her further to incorporate the youth into the programme.
“The youth end up engaging in the abuse of drugs and alcohol, as well as criminal activities, due to the economical state they find themselves in,” said Faywers.
She further said that they had also partnered with the Northern Cape Rural Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College, which will serve as an accredited service provider to acknowledge the youth upon completion.