In a bid to tackle unemployment in the Kouga region, a group of passionate volunteers from Jeffreys Bay have dedicated their time to running a comprehensive five-week programme through their non-profit organisation, People Upliftment and Life Skills Education (PULSE).
The programme aims to equip and inspire young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing them with the skills and confidence to overcome obstacles, and reach their full potential.
Neville Cumming, principal of PULSE, said their five-week programme for unemployed youth helps to establish the students’ self-confidence, by focusing on various skills which enable them to understand that they have a calling and purpose to add value.
“We have seen that students who have attended the programme have been transformed, which has resulted in a change in their behaviour and gaining a positive attitude,” said Cumming.
“Since 2017, PULSE has helped underprivileged communities through a holistic approach by addressing their physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. This approach has received acclaim from government, welfare organisations, businesses, and church groups.”
Cumming said they have had the privilege of running 20 courses to date, and with each course they are amazed to see the positive impact that it has had on students’ lives, which then impacts positively on their family and community.
Once the five-week programme has concluded, he said they also offer a week-long course titled “Work 4 A Living”, which focuses on educating students about a vast variety of business-related topics.
“Work 4 A Living focuses on working to a standard of excellence, understanding the pressure employers face, taking ownership of their job, offering financial literacy, and addressing the dependency syndrome by teaching students to have a positive mindset,” said Cumming.
Once the course has been completed, he said the organisation continues to help students obtain employment, start their own business, volunteer, or study further.
Cumming said that, to date, there has been a success rate of about 50 percent.
He further said that even though PULSE is run entirely through donations of money, time, and other resources, they do, however, still have a lack of these resources.
Cumming said they charge the students R200 to attend the course, where they are supplied with all study material and lunch each day; however, the cost to PULSE per student is R2 000.
“We aim to run the programme three times per annum for 12 to 20 students attending each programme, which means that a programme can cost anywhere from R21 600 to R36 000,” said Cumming.
In addition to needing financial support, he said people can also assist by offering their time to present their easy-to-use curriculum.
Cumming said their current programme offers basic computer training, training in office administration, entrepreneurship and financial literacy; however, PULSE needs more resources to offer additional skills training in home-based care, hospitality, sewing, welding, and any other skills that are in demand.
To further enrich their students’ learning experience, he said they are requesting that local businesses consider site visits or internship opportunities which would allow them to gain practical insights, cultivate their talents, and become active contributors to their communities.
For more information, or to contribute towards PULSE, contact Maria Nielsen at 066 140 9801, Filip Nielsen at 066 140 1288, Neville Cumming at 082 369 8582, or Willy Wright at 082 575 7433.
