Sakhile Youth Empowerment Centre (Sayec) is facing a quandary since the rented space at Nyandeni Primary School, is no longer available due to the impact of Covid-19.
Mr Thembalakhe Cornelius Mzizi, administrator, said during an interview on Tuesday, 4 May that Sayec intends to hold a re-branding event on 31 May.
Sayec now works from a container to facilitate their programmes for the youth in the township.
Mr Mzizi is a born and bred Standertonian and shares the dream of many a young man.
“My dream was to open my own business,” he admitted.
With unemployment rife in Standerton, the centre’s database has registered about 1 200 of the unemployed.
Apart from helping with the nitty-gritty of compiling a cv, assistance is rendered with filling in job application forms of which all government departments, those of the Lekwa Municipality and learnership programmes are on hand.
In the absence of the computer lab at Nyandeni, basic computer literacy can not be offered at this stage.
Sayec falls under the auspices of the Department of Social Development and apart from Mr Mzizi, a coordinator, manager and two mentors are at work.
A stipend is paid to the employees.
“We have plenty of ideas, but the space is limiting us,” Mr Mzizi said.
He intends completing a course in financial management, that derailed because of financial difficulties, at a college in Gauteng soon, as well as his N6.
“We wrote a letter to the municipality earlier this year, applying for a stand,” he also said.
According to him, Sayec has not yet received a reply.
“Funding is not a problem as such, getting a stand is.”
He unequivocally stated that Sayec is not an internet café.
“The main focus is to reach the unemployed with our programmes.”
At least 30 young people are daily helped.
“Not having a job is a huge problem with qualified people also taking the brunt of unemployment.”
He concluded by saying soccer has brought the Sakhile community together.
