kills development training provides short job-related skills training courses to out of school youth and other community members in Community House Building (Construction Masonry, Construction Carpentry), Food Preparation and Cooking. This allows trainees to seek employment in the formal and informal sector, or to start their own businesses or further their studies with Further Education and Training institutions (FET’s). This is in line with the provincial and national imperative of improving the skills competencies of people in municipalities and communities across the country.

Trainees registering for the courses pay a nominal fee for six months of training and the Foundation subsidizes the rest. This means that similar skills development courses at other institutions in the area can cost more than three times what the Foundation charges. As a result, these programmes are the most accessible and affordable option in the area. Short courses are also offered in Construction Masonry and Construction Carpentry.

Trainees receive both theory and practical training. Once they have completed all the modules in their syllabus, they are subjected to a summative assessment which determines if a trainee is competent or not yet competent in all the unit standards or a specific module. We accommodate people 16 years and above or with a minimum of grade 10 and above.

Impact of programmes on local communities

At a national level, the Skills Development Act of 1998 aims to develop the skills level of all the South African workforce and also improve the quality of life of workers and prospective workers. The Act spells clearly how training should be conducted, making sure that there is synergy between government departments and the private sector in that training is offered in accordance with the prescripts of the Act.

Phalaborwa has a 37.4% of people being unemployed. The skills we provide to our trainees allow them to be marketable to the industries and also provide an opportunity for them to start their own businesses.

Although our focus is on Ba-Phalaborwa communities, our work benefits people beyond the borders of Limpopo. Trainees develop and grow their businesses and seek opportunities where they can find them.