Jobs offered to the jobless, and the community is changed one step at a time. On Thursday, June 15 a ceremony kicked off at 10:00 at the Kopanong Hall, Kendal Power Station in celebration of youth day.
Young people struggle in Phola against poverty and unemployment. Kendal Power Station in partnership with Siemens, Emalahleni Local Government and the Social Development Office in Mpumalanga have made a commitment of meaningful economic transformation and inclusive growth towards the total eradication of poverty and towards the development of the Phola community.
The youth in Phola, surrounding farms and township were faced with many challenges and less opportunities for growth and development. This came to light with the recent rise in protests over employment and business opportunities. This clearly confirmed that unemployment is one of the biggest challenges that the youth are facing currently within the Phola area.
Kendal Power Station General Manager, Mr Christopher Nani approached Siemens and DSD to co-fund the construction of a Retirement Village for the elderly of Phola and surrounding townships and farms. It was then decided that 100 youngsters between the ages of 18 to 35 from the area would be selected to take part in training on painting, carpentry, plastering, tiling, bricklaying and plumbing. The training was done with accreditation from the Construction, Education and Training Authority SETA (CETA SETA).
The executive Mayor of eMalahleni, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali delivering a speech at an event held at Kendal Power Station on Thursday June 15.
June 15 was selected as the perfect day to award the learners their certificates after they qualified in their respective fields. June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a day that is observed yearly. It was befitting to honour students on this day as they will be building a village for the elderly. This day comes a day before June 16 where South Africans celebrate Youth Day.
It is a day violently etched on the South African collective conscience. Commemorated over 30 years later as Youth Day, an official holiday, it is the day that honours the deaths of hundreds of Soweto school children, a day that changed the course of the country’s history: 16 June 1976.
However this year, June 16 will be a day that we celebrate youth and highlight youth empowerment and recognise youth as the future leaders of this country.
The Kopang Hall in Kendal Power Station was abuzz with people, elderly people from different walks of life and students who had come with their parents for the graduation held in their honour together with the dignitaries from Eskom, Siemens Emalahleni Local Government, DSD and the National Lottery.
The day was opened in prayer by Pastor Mtsweni.
Cllr Ntshalintshali the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, welcomed everyone to such a prestigious event then the Executive Director of Siemens and Southern and Eastern Africa, Rita Nkuhlu sighted how much of an honour it is for not only Siemens but for her also to be speaking today as this project touches an area that is very close and dear to her.
Siemens takes its responsibility towards society very seriously, engaging in extensive education and community aid projects across South Africa.
“When we were commissioned to join Eskom and DSD by Christopher Nani, we did not hesitate because we are proud of implementing various skills development and educational programmes like the one you see here today. We are a company that is well aligned with the government’s priorities of developing the skills that the country needs and creating jobs for more South Africans,” she said.
The construction of the retirement village is an opportunity for the youth to give back to the generation that looked after them. That is our goal. Completing the sustainability circle.
The executive Mayor of eMalahleni, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali entering the area with the general manager of Eskom, Mr Christopher Nani and the MEC for the department of social development, Ms Beauty Shiba for the event at Kendal Power Station on Thursday, June 15.
The mastermind behind this huge project, Kendal General Manager Christopher Nani, took to the stage and specially thanked everyone who helped and contributed to making this project a great success.
“This is only the beginning, the spark and seed that you are all a part of. Today we are pleased to honour the elderly through empowering young people from Phola, who will improve the homes and communities from which they come.”
A touching video of one of the students was shared and for the first time during the whole programme everyone one in the room came to the realisation of the impact of the project in the lives of these students.
MEC for Social Development Ms. BP. Shiba, said that this is one of the legacy projects which will achieve sustainable livelihood for vulnerable households and promote care and protection of older persons simultaneously.
In pursuit of one of the strategic objectives of the department which is to provide integrated development services to the poor and vulnerable, in partnership with stakeholders and civil society organizations, the youth here in Phola, Emalahleni municipality and it will ensure that they get an allowance during the build.
The Emalahleni Local Government under the Executive Mayor of Emalahleni Local Municipality, Cllr Lindiwe Ntshalintshali ensured that there was land to build the Phola Village for the elderly. The project investment by Siemens includes training, purchasing, civil works and sustainability. DSD will ensure that during the building of the project an allowance will be provided to the graduates.
The National Lottery Commission purchased soccer kits.
This following the launch by the honourable premier, Didi Mabuza, that took place last year on July 18, the sword is turned in Phola village, with the aim to build this important facility to help our elderly people.
“The good news is that we are using youth, who are unemployed and this youth will be accredited as they will be given the status of artisans, recognised by the national government as well as the accreditation when it comes to CIDB. Being given the opportunities by the private sector in being able to work in the private sector once they are done with construction of this village. We are quite happy and excited at Eskom, eMalahleni, the social government and Siemens,” said the general manager of Eskom, Mr Christopher Nani.
He also stated that no tenders will be accepted, as this project is for the people of Phola, building the village for the elderly people of Phola and this will be one of the things that the community will really appreciate.
