3 September 2007
The Minister of Social Development, Zola Skweyiya has signed a co-operation
agreement with the Minister of Labour and Social Security in Cuba, Alfredo
Morales Cartaya, which is to benefit hundreds of unemployed youth.
Skweyiya is in Cuba to strengthen ties and explore opportunities and the
agreement formalises co-operation in the following areas:
* comprehensive social security
* services to women, youth and children community development, poverty
alleviation and training of social service professionals.
Amongst many areas of co-operation, the department will collaborate with the
Cuban Ministry to train unemployed youth as auxiliary social workers. The
Department of Social Development has to train and absorb 9 360 auxiliary social
workers by 2010. Cuba has developed a two pronged work training programme
comprising, a formal university level programme and a rapid 12 month social
work training programme. As part of the implementation of the agreement the
Cuban programme will be replicated in South Africa to alleviate the shortage of
social workers and create much needed jobs as part of the Expanded Public Works
Programme.
A national recruitment programme will be embarked upon with a bias towards
youth from rural and poor communities.
"The youth will be trained and on completion be deployed in their
communities to help us deal with the various social challenges such as
assisting orphans and vulnerable children, alleviating the HIV and AIDS impact,
vulnerable youth support and others. A rapid auxiliary social worker training
programme will surely help us deal with the critical shortages of social
workers," said Skweyiya.
The co-operation with Cuba will also include study tours, exchange of
technical expertise on policy development.
For further enquiries call:
Lakela Kaunda
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
3 September 2007
