NGO EQUIPS YOUTH WITH RARE SKILLS

BY STAFF REPORTER
Bokenhouthoek: A group of young people from Bokenhouthoek, Mathyzensloop and Bundu Villages, in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality, have finally graduated for a scholarship initiative launched by Isibusiso Home Based Care in partnership with Advance Academy institution.
The 187 new graduates benefited from the scholarship in 2019, they were studying project management and safety management courses.
Their graduation ceremony was held at the Isibusiso Home Based Care premises at Bokenhouthoek on Monday 18 October.
Isibusiso Home Based Care is a Non-Government Organization (NGO), which its primary focus is to develop disadvantaged young people to deal with socio-economic challenges facing the country.
According to Isibusiso Home Based Care Manager, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, the initiative is focusing on assisting deserving young people to acquire training and grow the pool of qualified individuals in the asset of project and safety management industries. “I started the initiative back then in 2019 after realizing that young people in my community lacked opportunities because they don’t have certain skills requisite for employment. I approached Advance Academy Manager Lucas Ntuli who responded positively and he allowed these young people to enrol at his institution through a scholarship programme with a sole purpose of uplifting them,” he said. Mahlangu added that the focus of the scholarship was on scarce skills, which are desperately needed as part local economic growth.
“Providing opportunities that are empowering young people is Isibusiso’s main focus because as an organisation we want to see our youth reaching greater heights in the near future. I am happy that they were all passed with flying colours and we will be able to place in various projects around Thembisile Hani Local Municipality and beyond,” he said.
Mahlangu indicated that the home based care is currently busy training other young people who will be graduating soon.
“They have started their training in 2018 doing Business Administration with HPS Academy in partnership with Tshiredo Training Academy. As part of their training, the 50 students receive R2000-00 stipend every month,” explained Mahlangu. He said after completing their training, the students will be placed in various government institutions such as Department of Health’s local clinics from Moloto to Bundu, Department of Safety and Security, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality and Zithabiseni Holiday Resort.