AFTER experiencing first-hand what the difficulties were of finding a job without a matric certification, Angelina Baartman established a training centre in Humansdorp to help the unemployed and those without qualifications to further their education.
With only a Grade 10 certificate, Baartman who is the founder and managing director of Rehoboth Training Solutions and Rehoboth Training and Development, left school in 1981, but soon realised that to find employment, she needed to work towards obtaining her Grade 12 certificate.
In 1995, at the age of 30, while Baartman was staying in Cape Town with her husband and three young children, she enrolled as a full-time adult learner at Kleinvlei Senior Secondary School and matriculated later that year.
“Being a full-time student was stressful, because I had two children who were in primary school and one in preschool.
“I was also a pastor’s wife, so I had multiple roles to play,” said Baartman.
Once she received her Grade 12 certificate, Baartman was determined to further her education and, in 2003, while working for Transnet, she received a bursary from the company and, in 2006, she obtained her National Diploma in Human Resources Management.
Furthermore, in 2006, she received another bursary from Transnet and obtained her Bachelor of Technology degree in Human Resources Management in 2008.
In 2010, Baartman and her family relocated to Humansdorp to establish their church, Bet-El Revival Centre and she began working at Woodlands Dairy.
After experiencing the benefits of furthering her education, Baartman was determined to help people in Humansdorp to obtain their Grade 12 certificates and help them pursue their dreams.
In 2017, with help from Woodlands Dairy’s entrepreneurial development programme, Baartman was able to establish Rehoboth Training Solutions, a private training centre dedicated to assisting the unemployed and helping people obtain their Grade 12 certificate.
Furthermore, in 2019, she established Rehoboth Training and Development, an NPO, sponsored by Kouga Wind Farm, which focused on helping the unemployed with computer training.
“Not having a Grade 12 certificate often results in unemployment and, in many cases, those who are privileged enough to have a job are often kept from being promoted because they do not have Grade 12,” said Baartman.
“My passion for development and the positive experience I had with education drove me to set up the centre for people in the area to further their education.”
Rehoboth Training Solutions offers a variety of courses which include adult educational training, fundamental learning competency, industry matric, amended senior certificate, computer training, learnerships and soft skills.
Kouga Windfarm currently funds 30 amended senior certificates, while 13 amended senior certificates students are self-funded.
“The vision of Rehoboth Training Solutions is to help our community flourish again,” said Baartman.
For more information, visit Rehoboth Training Solutions, from Monday to Thursday, between 09:00 to 12:00, in Down Voortrekker Road on the R102, Plaatjies Drift, in Humansdorp. Alternatively, contact Angelina Baartman on 083 982 9486.
