Third group of 66 youths graduate from Youth Skills Transfer Programme
Today, the Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Albert Fritz handed over graduation certificates to 66 young people from the Eden Karoo Region who completed the Youth Skills Transfer (YST) Programme.
The YST programme is a partnership between the Department of Social Development, the Community Chest and Cape Nature, and was borne out of an extensive 7 month ministerial youth outreach initiative which covered all six regions from January - July 2015.
The young participants come from the communities of Ladismith, Oudteshoorn and Beaufort West. They underwent training and workshops offered in 2 blocks of 5 days each. The workshops covered basic principles and practical skills in:
- project management
- event management
- financial management
- business skills
- resource mobilization
- marketing and life-skills.
The YST aims to produce 390 young graduates and the programme will run from August 2015 to March 2016. Participants will also be given exposure to the events industry in their local areas, and will be provided with a toolkit for career and personal advancement.
Our NGO partners, the Community Chest, will provide a coaching and mentoring service to the participants by providing online and telephonic counselling and networking support. The youth will be linked to existing opportunities within government, the private sector and other civil agencies, and will be supported and guided when they want to start up their own enterprises.
The Department of Social Development will continue to play its part in delivering on the Provincial Youth Development Strategy, and expand services and opportunities to youth in the province. We can give young people opportunities to unlock their full potential if we continue to work, ‘Better Together’.
Enquiries:
Minister Albert Fritz
Cell: 083 307 0192
Sihle Ngobese
Spokesperson for Albert Fritz, Minister of Social Development
Tel: 021 483 9217
Cell: 076 083 6543
Email: Sihle.Ngobese@westerncape.gov.za
