Youth, parolees learn perfume-making skills

The youth and parolees learnt perfume manufacturing and entrepreneurial skills during a skills empowerment programme spearheaded by the Boksburg Correctional Services (BCS) in partnership with Kgao Project Managers (KPM) at Vosloorus Civic Centre on May 14.

Parolee Patric Mugwena(64) said he was released from prison last May after being incarcerated for 23 years, so he was thinking of broadening his business horizons, and what he learnt from the empowerment programme will help him extensively.

“I learnt how to make a perfume from scratch, and I will venture into the perfume manufacturing industry from now on. It is something I needed because I’m already a pensioner and can’t be employed anywhere, so having this skill will be useful. Remember, as ex-offenders, there’s a bad stigma surrounding us, and we sometimes struggle to find employment.

“Such programmes can help us survive after being rehabilitated,” Mugwena said.

He thanked the BCS and KPM for hosting such a helpful programme.

Attendee Liviwe Dlamalala (21) said he learnt much from the programme.

“I didn’t know the whole process of manufacturing perfume, and it’s something I use every day. It inspires me to be an entrepreneur rather than a job seeker. I aim to manufacture my perfume in the future,” Dlamalala said.

According to Thami Masinga, a member of KPM, they became part of the programme to give back to the community.

“We are based in Diepkloof, Soweto, and first taught the learners in seven high schools in our area how to manufacture various products. As a company, we manufacture cleaning and washing detergents, including perfumes, and wherever we are invited to, we teach people how to manufacture all those products.

“During this occassion, we focused on teaching the people here to manufacture perfumes and be entrepreneurs because if people are not interested in manufacturing, they can always provide services to their communities and make money from it,” Masinga explained.

He said it’s not their last skills empowerment programme because they will continue empowering communities.

BCS spokesperson Sello Modise said the programme’s primary aim is to empower the youth and ex-offenders.

“We want young people and parolees to know that entrepreneurship is one of the fundamental aspects that can reduce the high unemployment rate. The youth must know that having a certain qualification doesn’t limit them from being entrepreneurs,” Modise concluded.

Ward 44 Clr Nkosinathi Shongwe and businessman Melusi Ngwenya graced the skills empowerment programme.