Excitement was evident on the faces of young people who graduated from the National Youth Service programme under the Expanded Public Works Programme(EPWP) on Friday 16 February.
A total of 108 unemployed people were trained in carpentry and community house building.
The nine-month project was spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
Some of the graduates came from Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Philippi, Langa, Pelican Park and Nyanga.
Addressing the graduates during a handover ceremony at OR Tambo Sports Complex in Khayelitsha Sihle Zikalala, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, said the government strived to empower young people.
He said a country that doesn’t value its children doesn’t deserve the future.
“Youth is our future. We (adults) are there to hold the baton on their behalf. Down the line, we have to pass the baton to them and let them continue to represent us in our country. We applaud you for being part of the programme. We thank you for your dedication, discipline and determination,” said Zikalala.
He said that it would be amiss for them not to express their gratitude to the people who educated them. He described the programme as a national programme.
“We started this programme in April 2004. We have 20 years of doing this programme and we are doing it in all the municipalities. We are working together with the government department and non-profit organisations. And our aim is to improve it every year,” he said. He said the programme gives accredited skills and qualifications.
“It also covers life skills, medical exam tests, trade training and transport. We also provide them with a stipend. We also try to connect them with companies. Out of 108 students that are graduating today, 56 of them are already employed by various companies,” he said.
Zikalala said the programme is part of the ‘Decade of Artisan’ campaign which aims to produce 30 000 artisans per year by 2030 as indicated in the government’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 and the White Paper for Post School Education and Training (PSET).
One of the graduates, Siphokuhle Matholengwe from Philippi described the programme as a great initiative. She said she learned a lot during the programme. “It was a nine-month programme. I started last year in January till September. I did carpentry, glazing and tiling. It was a great experience for me,” she said adding that she enjoyed carpentry the most.