Lesedi learners advance to next level

For the past 11 years the Peermont Community Benefit Trust (PCBT), one of Peermont Global’s CSI initiatives, has offered sponsorship for trades or similar qualifications to deserving young people from the Ekurhuleni area, in order to address the dire need for scarce skills in the country and help young people become economically active.

During 2016 the trustees sponsored 22 young people for electrical learnerships at various levels, enabling them to do trade tests and acquire permanent jobs.

In addition, three young people were selected to complete a course in air conditioning and refrigeration, and two youngsters for a course in plumbing.

The learners completed the theory component of their learnership at the end of last year and have started working in Emperors Palace’s maintenance department for their experiential learning.

To celebrate and let the students get to know the artisans who will be assisting them during their experiential training, the PCBT hosted a lunch for them recently at the Peermont Hotel School.

“The Emperors Palace maintenance department hosts the learners for the duration of their experiential learning and they benefit greatly from working on this prestigious complex,” says PCBT trust manager, Jenny Findlay. She thanked the artisans and supervisors from the department for their dedication to coaching the learners. Their valuable contribution was an integral part of the project’s success, she said.

Students are selected annually based on their performance, their ambition and integral sense of purpose.

The trust provides individualised mentorship, which includes life skills and emotional intelligence. At the end of their training period, improvement is clearly visible.

The trustees encourage beneficiaries to “plough back” to their communities after completing their qualification. Over 500 learners have benefited from the Lesedi programme, which boasts a 98 percent job placement rate.