Thousands of youth have lost hope of finding jobs, others have seen no other way to escape from poverty but to do crime in order to survive.
The five-year-old project that was founded by Thanda Masango-Mahlangu has come to rescue many young people by proving them with the necessary skills that will help them find employment.
This time, the lucky people are the youth of KwaThema.
With the help of the National Home Builders’ Registration Council, about 70 young people including KwaThema’s physically disabled unemployed young people have the opportunity to study to gain different skills.
They learn plumbing, roofing, painting and bricklaying.
There is also training in other trades available to them.
Mahlangu says after completing the three month course which includes practical work, the students who study free of charge will receive certificates that will help them find employment.
“Some of them might not even ask for employment but with the information that they have, will be able to start their own businesses and create job opportunities for others,” she says.
Mahlangu says she started the project after she realised that many young people are unemployed because they do not have the skills to make them employable.
She says after witnessing many houses collapsing as a result of faulty construction, she saw the need for well trained bricklayers who will deliver an excellent job.
“For 15 students, the way to the top is clear after three of them already found jobs even before completing their courses while 12 of them have mentors in the plumbing industry,” says Masango-Mahlangu.
She says after the KwaThema students complete their course, they are planning to help the youth of Duduza and Tsakane to have the opportunity to study for free and learn valuable skills.
She invites all the interested youth, women and people with disabilities to register to study different short courses.
For more information, contact Nkosinathi Jonga on 071 948 2559 or Thanda Mnisi on 083 736 9122.