Youth can get ready to work
HOUGHTON – ORT SA launches a skills development programme.
Non-profit education and training organisation, ORT South Africa which is based in Houghton, together with partner, Barclays, launched the ReadytoWork programme on Mandela Day in Alexandra.
“This was quite an auspicious day to launch such a course, as Mandela himself said that ‘education is the most powerful tool that you can use to change the world’,” said Ariellah Rosenberg, CEO of ORT SA.
She added that the launch was very important as when young people set out to find employment or create self-employment, they need skills that will help them transition from the world of education into the job market.
The ReadytoWork training provides learning material designed to encourage young people to develop work skills, people skills, money skills and entrepreneurship skills. The syllabus is flexible as it allows for learning online at their own pace using computers, tablets or mobile platforms or as part of a more structured course, supported by ORT SA-trained facilitators and additional resources.
Ian Jacob, head of skills at ORT SA, welcomed the initiative, noting that the training equips students with crucial people and work skills in readiness for the work environment. In each of the modules, there are learning topics written in the form of articles that have been designed to speak to young people – the information is bite size, the learning is concise and the material is visually appealing.
According to Rosenberg, the ReadyToWork curriculum was developed after research was carried out across Africa to identify the gaps in employment and youth-owned businesses.
She urges the community to contact ORT SA should there be anyone who can benefit from the programme.
Details: Ian@ortsa.org.z or 011 728 7154.
