DESTEA empowers a jewellery school
The National Development Plan (NDP) and Free State Gross Domestic Product (FSGDS) have indicated that in order to achieve the 2030 target of reducing unemployment, key sectors such as manufacturing have to be supported including beneficiation as one of the sub-sectors that have been identified as key in uplifting the economy. In aligning with these plans and to support and make an impact, the Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in partnership with Nedbank will hand over 20 computers to the jewellery school in Virginia tomorrow.
Virginia Jewellery School is a non-profitable organisation which aims to promote training on Jewellery Design and Manufacturing and create employment for the graduates.
The 20 computers which will be placed in the computer lab will be used to train Artisan Development learners on how to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) to develop jewellery designs from the computer programme that can be casted. The school has the potential to assist in mitigating the challenge of high youth unemployment in the province. Its aim is to train youth to become artisans and eventually goldsmiths.
The school has 39 learners and 3 interns, who are being trained on design (hand), crafting and polishing jewelry. When all resources are available, the school has the potential to accommodate 80 learners.
In light of this, DESTEA appreciates the support and partnership of Nedbank which attests to sentiments that government working together with the private sectors can achieve more.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: 22 June 2018
Venue: Virginia Jewellery School
Time: 10h00
The media is invited.
For more information and RSVP please contact:
Elsie Makhasane
Tel: 051 400 9573
E-mail: ntsane@destea.gov.za
