More than 80 young people from Gugulethu took part in an empowerment project which kicked off on Saturday 8 October at Europe informal settlement.
The project, which is training the youth about the basic plumbing skills and entrepreneurial ignition, is expected to continue for four weeks.
The project is organised by Siyakhula Community Kitchen, a non-profit organisation (NPO) that supports and empowers local communities with knowledge and skills to make a living. Siyakhula aims to equip the youth with skills to be able to create jobs for themselves.
The City’s acting mayco member for water and sanitation Siseko Mbandezi attended the event.
Betty Duli-Mkanise, founder of the soup kitchen, said the programme is facilitated by the Lixil Afrika, an African-based entity which is empowering people particularly youth with the necessary skills.
Duli-Mkinase said it is time for young people to take the centre stage in all the programmes that happen in their respective communities.
“I’ve noticed that there are many young people who are unemployed in the community and the majority of them have completed their matric, and by providing such programmes we are empowering them in order to get jobs or to establish their own businesses,” said Mkinase.
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Mbandezi urged the youth to grab the opportunity with both hands.
He said the City supports such community programmes, adding that the certificates will enable them to get better jobs.
Lixil Africa facilitator Igsaan Hugo stated that they are training the community basic plumbing skills such as how to repair a leaking tap and cistern.
“We are creating water saving ambassadors where the community takes ownership of their water resource.
“Then we have the entrepreneurial side where we teach the attendees to start thinking about starting their own business, and it does not necessarily have to be plumbing. We teach the young people how to write a business plan and how to register a small enterprise,” he said.
Hugo stated that the programme is designed to equip the youth with the necessary skills to either do preventative maintenance or become successful entrepreneurs for a better society.