A variety of community-based organisations have joined hands to inspire and encourage Strandfontein and Mitchell’s Plain youth to reach their full potential.
The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Cape Flats, Hope Southern Africa (HOSA), and 9 Miles Project have gone the distance to have 30 youth complete a four-month holistic pre-college and job readiness programme.
Presented by non-profit organisation Commmuniversity of South Africa, youth will be encouraged to be entrepreneurs, academics, and to learn with practical experience and life skills to pursue their dreams.
Commmuniversity community liaison manager and mathematics teacher, Liticha van Neel said it was important to offer the necessary support and training to young people and that this could have a ripple effect on their communities.
“It is fantastic to see these young people develop and achieve their goals,” she said.
Ms Van Neel said the NPO, originally based in Vrygrond since 2012, was specifically designed to address unemployment; to help youth with disadvantaged financial and geographical backgrounds to access information, education and opportunities; to prepare themselves for employment and further education; and to connect youth with job opportunities and academic degrees.
“The Communiversity prepares young people successfully for college, and technical college in particular while providing them with opportunities for in-depth personal growth, so they can become outstanding college students, entrepreneurs, inspiring community leaders and model citizens, as well as sought-after employees,” she said.
Ms Van Neel said they want to operate in the communities, where youth require their services and limit the excuses to being active members of society.
Recruitment and basic computer skills facilitator Gary Newton Speelman had first hand experience of being a student of the programme. He went to study information technology and he is sharing his skills with other youth.
He explained that youth had to pay a R50 application fee and a R250 commitment fee, which would be waived if they brought a friend along.
The tuition bursary of R12 000 a student is covered by sponsors, partners and donors. It includes two meals a day and tuition in practical culinary and hospitality, electrical, carpentry and plumbing, life skills, basic first aid training, ready- to-work experience, basic computer skills and academics Independent Examinations Board (IEB) accredited mathematics, English, and engineering science.
Applicants, aged between 18 and 35, must register at the new campus, at YMCA Cape Flats in Camp Road, Strandfontein, this week, with classes starting on Monday September 2, from 8am until 3pm.
Take a certified copy of your identity document or birth certificate, two recent colour ID photographs, a one-page character reference letter from a school principal, from a previous employer or from a religious institution; and come prepared for an interview and to complete an English and mathematics assessment.
For more information call or text Gary on 072 707 7735.