Matseleng Khatite, 35, a mother of two from Finsbury said she’s grateful that the Ndimase Development Centre opened her eyes and made it possible for her to access furniture-making skills, which is a male-dominated industry.
She said she enjoys it and already sees herself establishing a furniture-manufacturing cooperative and becoming an employer.
Matseleng is a beneficiary of the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s Sustainable Livelihoods skills programme in partnership with the Ndimase Development Centre where they provide accredited training to the unemployed youth. The centre was founded five years ago.
One of the founders, Zanele Dumakude said, “We provide skills training in sewing, computer, furniture manufacturing and poultry farming to the youth of the West Rand. We are happy that we could expand to furniture manufacturing following the funding we received from the Gauteng Department of Social Development. We make couches, headboards, TV stands and office furniture. We established this centre with the aim of developing the community to ensure that we reduce the high unemployment rate in our society. Our mandate is to equip young people who come from disadvantaged communities with skills that would enable them to enter the job market and open their own cooperatives and businesses.”
At first, we only targeted the youth of Randfontein but we have now added areas such as Hekpoort, Brandvlei, Magaliesburg and Kromdraai as they are the most vulnerable areas. Our aim is to produce employers across the West Rand,” Zanele added.
She said the young people receive skills training and stipends. After completion they are awarded SETA-accredited certificates in their fields. The products manufactured at the centre are supplied to local businesses.
“Furthermore, we would like to expand into other business ventures to ensure the youth and community gain access to economic opportunities. The aim is to make sure that the community is self-sustainable. We also intend to explore introducing more skills training and we are happy to collaborate with Social Development as champions of sustainable livelihoods,” said Zanele.
Should anyone wish to do business with Ndimase Development Centre, call Zanele Dumakude on 073 752 0963.
