Excitement was evident on the faces of young people who graduated at Ikamva Labantwana Bethu, a non governmental organisation (NGO), in Crossroads on Friday 22 April.
At least 35 unemployed youth from Crossroads and the surrounding communities took part in the eight weeks skills training programme.
The NGO trains unemployed youth various skills.
Simankele Njajula, Ikamva programme manager, described the initiative as a stepping stone into the future.
He said their aim is to restore hope to the hopeless.
“We have various programmes that we are providing. They include life skills, barista skills, job readiness training, office administration and basic computer skills. Our training is free of charge. After training we give our trainees certificates,” he stated, adding that they are working in partnership with the City of Cape Town’s Social Development Department.
However, the group received their certificates through emails to personally print them.
According to Njajula, the NGO was established in 2019 to assist scores of young people roaming the streets.
“Ever since we started the organisation we have received great response.
“We initially went to the malls and taxi ranks to distribute pamphlets to recruit people to join us. But now we are no longer recruiting people, they are coming on their own,” he said.
The organisation targets young people between the ages of 16 to 25.
He stated that they are working mostly with local primary schools.
“We have two learners from the group that graduated on Friday that are going to help in the organisation. We have four other learners that we placed at various schools as teacher’s assistants.
“One is placed at Hlengisa Primary School, the other at John Pama primary (both in Nyanga), one at Ntshinga primary (Gugulethu) and the last at Samora Machel primary in Samora,” said Njajula.
One of the graduates Ayanda Malibeni (23) described the programmes as helpful. She said she heard about the organisation through a friend.
“I learned a lot about office administration. And also the job readiness training helped me.
“Now I’m always prepared for anything. I know how to draft the curriculum vitae and how to prepare myself for an interview,” she stated.
Malibeni urged youth to join these community programmes to empower themselves.
