NCPD partners up to empower the youth
"The sessions gave attendees additional skills for their own financial independence within the South African workforce."
During the May, the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) held a Jobseekers Training Programme to uplift youth with disabilities.
The programme, held in partnership with Samsung, had the objective of upskilling youth and empowering them for the job market.
“The sessions gave attendees additional skills for their own financial independence within the South African workforce,” said Nokuthula Manana, public relations and communications officer of the NCPD.
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She said 22 people, with varying disabilities, from Johannesburg and Pretoria attended the programme and received certificates on May 27 and 28.
“We were fortunate to have the most amazing diverse group; excellent job candidates with various sets of skills and experience,” said Therina Wentzel-du Toit, national director of the NCPD.
“It was such a privilege to offer the candidates to prospective employers, especially with the workshop providing the surety that our candidates are indeed ready to walk into a job.”
Topics attendees were given training on included, but were not limited to, the following:
• Job preparation
• Financial literacy and entrepreneurship
• Self-actualisation and communication skills
• Job searching skills and assertiveness
• Computer and ICT training
• Disability equity training
Facilitators involved included the NCPD staff, Department of Labour, SA Federation of Mental Health, Agricultural Research Council Momentum, Norton Rose Fulbright and ProTec Solutions.
Besides empowering those in attendance, the programme was held to allow the NCPD to contribute towards the bigger picture.
Ernu van der Westhuizen, NCPD senior manager of public awareness and sensitisation, said the workshops formed part of the NCPD’s inclusive employment programme.
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“This programme covers a wide spectrum, including recruitment, disability equity training in the workplace, reasonable accommodation and workplace policy support, as well as universal and access workplace audits,” he explained.
In the future, the council hopes to host similar programmes.
