By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Ubuntu Kraal owner Nancy Nxumalo launched the new training project on Friday to help fight youth unemployment and drug abuse.
- The entertainment venue will offer many short courses and give learners a stipend to pay for transport and basic needs.
A widely recognised entertainment venue has started a new training programme to help young people find work.
Ubuntu Kraal launched the skills project on Friday, 17 April. The goal is to train 30,000 unemployed young people over the next five years.
South Africa currently has an estimated 5.8 million unemployed youth.
Ubuntu Kraal owner Nancy Nxumalo started the project. She wants to use the venue to give young people practical training that matches what businesses need. She also hopes the project will help fight drug abuse.
Nxumalo worked with the Salvation Army for 20 years, helping youth and women across different provinces. She said this experience pushed her to start the training hub.
The programme will offer 176 accredited courses. These will include short skills classes, part-qualifications and full occupational qualifications. The classes will cover the construction, agriculture and services sectors.
Different training partners will help run the courses. The courses are aligned with government training bodies like the QCTO and various SETAs.
All training will happen at Ubuntu Kraal.
Nxumalo said the venue has enough space for the learners.
The project will take in learners in different phases. The first group has 67 young people.
Learners will get a stipend while they study. This money will help them pay for transport, study materials and basic needs.
SETAs and economic development groups support the project.
Organisers say they will put the names of people who finish the courses on databases. This will improve their chances of finding jobs.
Pictured above: Ubuntu Kraal.
Image source: Selloane Ntshonyane
