City Local Economic Development learnership empowers youths

06 December 2016

 

Eighteen young people who underwent a Local Economic Development (LED) learnership in the City of Johannesburg's Economic Development Department were on cloud nine at the weekend when they all successfully completed the extensive and rigorous 12-month programme.

 

During the course - which was in support of the objectives of Skills Development Act of 1998 of making workplaces active learning environments - the young people were equipped with relevant theoretical and practical skills.

The learnership consisted of seven modules, which included communication and mathematical skills, preparations and planning for the implementation of LED projects, assessing the viability of project proposals, monitoring and reporting of progress, application of the municipal context, administration and human resources management.

Addressing the graduates, Member of Mayoral Committee for Corporate and Shared Services Cllr Ntombi Khumalo said the City was committed to contributing to the country’s national skills development agenda by focusing on both internal and external talent development initiatives.

“To the graduates, where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one has written the script of your destiny. May this qualification equip you with abilities to scale greater heights and may you also plough back to the community through your skills and knowledge. Make the city proud,” Cllr Khumalo said.

Among the graduates was 27-year-old Mpho Xabanisa, who has been exposed to innovative ways of setting up a business enterprise, a skill he said he would transfer to other young and aspiring entrepreneurs.

“I was in the Trade and Investment Unit of the department, and during that time, I got a better understanding of how things are interlinked. The seminars and workshops that we had during the training have helped me understand how business is run,” said Xabanisa of Orlando East, Soweto.

“It’s one thing to read about something and quite another to plan an event from scratch. It has given me so much knowledge. I hope that I will impart these skills to those who will be following in my footsteps,” Xabanisa added. 

Nomlamli Mahanjana, the leanership’s service provider and motivational speaker, said: “I would like to commend the City for investing in skills and development programmes for its youth. This is creating opportunities for those who are disadvantaged. It changes the lives of many youths living in destitution and helplessness.

“It is also an opportunity for them to open doors to serve others. Therefore, making the city a better place for ordinary citizens starts with them,” Mahanjana said.