3 September 2007
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, has signed a
co-operation agreement with the Minister of Labour and Social Security in Cuba,
Mr Alfredo Morales Cartaya, which is to benefit hundreds of unemployed youth.
Dr Skweyiya is in Cuba to strengthen ties and explore opportunities and the
agreement formalises co-operation in the following areas:
a. comprehensive social security,
b. 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 (EPWP).
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 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 Dr Skweyiya. The co-operation with Cuba will
also include study tours, exchange of technical expertise on policy
development.
For further enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
3 September 2007
