A total of 109 participants in the National Rural Youth Service Corps (Narysec) programme received their certificates after completing all phases of their learning.
They were awarded certificates in Clothing Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Meat Processing and Accounting Technology. Some also qualified as traffic officers.
With these qualifications they can compete in the job market, study further or register their own businesses.
Rosemary Nokuzola Capa, deputy minister of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, presided over the graduation ceremony at the Gamagara City Hall in Kathu on 24 June.
The graduates, which were recruited from all five district municipalities of the province, enrolled in the Narysec programme in 2017, 2018 or 2019.
“The youth are now recruited through multi-stakeholder collaborations of the District Development Model, and the skills development of the youth is aligned to economic opportunities in a district,” Capa said.
Also, the department has secured sustainable economic development for these youth with other partners and stakeholders from public and private institutions.
The traffic officers who successfully completed their qualifications have been absorbed by the various municipalities they hail from, and they have been employed permanently.
The Narysec programme was established in September 2010 with the main focus of capacitating rural youth to become economically active and contribute towards the upliftment of their rural communities.
The day after the graduation ceremony, a walkabout took place at the developing Farmers Production Support Unit (FPSU) at Heuningvlei in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality.
About ten Narysec youth from Heuningvlei who graduated have been equipped with skills to manage the administrative side of the FPSU. They will also be retrained in Computer Practice and Business Development, and aim to obtain driving licences during the third quarter of this financial year.
This was followed by the launch of the honey production and processing programme, as well as the salt production programme, which will be managed by about 12 youths.
On 18 July they will be commence their induction at the Narysec College, followed by a course in honey production and processing.
The same youth will also be supported with the necessary processes to be able to mine salt from the pan.
