Church offers free skills training to help tackle unemployment
A programme ran by the Church of the Nazarene Boksburg helping locals with skills development and job applications.
In a bid to address the skills shortage among residents and improve employment opportunities, the Church of the Nazarene Boksburg in Parkrand is inviting community members to take advantage of its free skills development programme.
Programme director Karen Keen said the initiative aims to empower people with practical, marketable skills that can improve their chances of finding work.
“We encourage people who spend their time on street corners or who are struggling to find employment to join the programme and gain skills that are relevant to today’s workplace,” said Keen.
She also appealed to businesses in and around Boksburg to partner with the initiative by sharing available job opportunities for programme graduates. In addition, the church is calling on community members to support the programme through donations or by volunteering their time as trainers.\
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“Donations and volunteer labour remain our main sources of running the programme. We encourage anyone with experience in skills development to serve as a mentor or trainer,” Keen appealed.
The initiative equips unemployed job seekers with practical vocational skills, workplace readiness training and guidance on entering the job market.
Participants also receive assistance with applying for jobs online, preparing professional CVs and developing interview skills.
The programme is facilitated by skilled volunteers who offer training in a range of fields, including caregiving, English, crafts, fire-fighting, domestic work, food safety, gardening, general housekeeping and safety, woodworking and welding.
Participants receive certificates upon completing each course, which they can include on their CVs or use as a stepping stone to start their own small businesses.
The church also assists graduates by linking them with employment opportunities across Ekurhuleni.
According to the church, the programme has already made a positive impact, with many participants gaining valuable skills, increased confidence and improved employment prospects.
Some have secured jobs, while others have gone on to establish their own small businesses.
Looking ahead, the church hopes to expand its range of courses, recruit more volunteer trainers and reach even more residents in Boksburg and surrounding communities.
Businesses and individuals who would like to share available job opportunities, make a donation or volunteer as trainers can contact Karen Keen on 084 333 3054.
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