Youth Communications service provider near you, thanks to Social Development

If you are looking for an Internet Café, photography, videography and PA system hiring services in the area of Dordrecht at Emalahleni local municipality in the Chris Hani District, visit Sinako Youth Entrepreneurship Programme at 11 Van Zyl Street, Dordrecht under ward 14.

This is a Social Development and Special Programmes funded youth project that is aimed at fighting poverty and unemployment amongst young people, and also to improve income and capacitate project members with skills and contribute to economic development.

It came into existence in 2003 by two Dordrecht unemployed youths who responded to government's call for the unemployed to start their own initiatives. This now 6 member project comprising five males and a female received a funding from the department in 2009 to the tune of R500 000 to sustain their project.

One of the project's highlight was when they successfully rendered services to Transnet with photography, videography and hiring of PA system during Transnet Sport tournament in the Chris Hani District. They also do business with local schools, funeral parlours and other local businesses.

Emalahleni Local Municipality provided the project with training in Business, Financial and project Management Skills. The Eastern Cape Development Centre (ECDC) also provided them with skills on Small Business Management.

As part of Youth Month activities, the department took to Dodrecht to launch this initiative. Addressing the audience, department’s youth development Senior Manager Masizi Mazizi said opportunities must be created to transfer skills on Entrepreneurship Development. "We need to encourage and motivate other unemployed, poverty stricken and vulnerable youth and community at large to participate actively in projects to improve their living conditions," he said.

Mazizi also called for government to provide adequate information to young people. "As we work to create opportunities for the development of our youth, we must also ensure that the youth is informed of the opportunities that are available to them. These include the programmes provided by the youth development directorate of our department to enable the youth to start their own businesses and to expand enterprises they might be running. We must reach out to these young people, among other things to assist them to acquire the prerequisite skills and resources that would afford them the opportunity to take the high road to success," he added.

Project Chairperson Elvis Nkumenge said community members do not go to other towns for online services anymore and students are able to access internet and do research on their assignments. "We represent the project in many community and government meetings so as to mobilise local market and other potential funders. So far the project has been a success and it has alleviated any thoughts of crime or any illegal activities through hope that it will make a difference in the near future, in that it is promoting Social Cohesion," he said. The project also received R204 000 top up funding that would help them to continue operating.