Learners taught valuable skills for making furniture
The learners have a woodwork centre where they are taught how to design and make wood furniture from scratch, for commercial purposes.
A group of learners from the Itumeleng Learners with Special Education Needs School are empowering themselves and creating quality furniture from the comfort of their classrooms.
• Also read: Sibanye-Stillwater builds woodwork center at Itumeleng LSEN School
This is through their woodwork curriculum where they are taught how to design and make wood furniture from scratch, for commercial purposes. This in turn empowers them with the necessary skills to create wood furniture and ensure that they can start their own businesses once they leave the schooling system.
The Randfontein Herald paid a visit to the school on June 15, which caters to children with special needs and was met with quality furniture designed by the learners.
According to the school’s head of department at the woodwork centre, Archie Danke, the learners are taken through the whole process of furniture designing.
“We start with the basics and by using the damaged material such as the pallets. Once they’ve grasped that, we move them to another class. We then teach them how to operate power tools as well as create their own designs via drawing. We also stimulate them by playing YouTube videos, so they can get a sense of some of the diverse designs out there.
“They then design their own furniture from scratch.
We then sometimes get community members, who are interested in the furniture, to place orders for purchasing,” said Archie.
Learners who are exiting the school after completing their Grade 5 are gifted with power tools and necessary equipment so that they can start their own businesses.
• Also read: Woodworking at home
This is because some of them cannot be employed in the mainstream job sector, due to their learning disabilities.
Meanwhile, Ntando Ndlovu who is also a woodwork educator at the school, shared the same sentiments and said that they take pride in the job that they do.
He deals with the technical part of the woodwork designs and ensures that the furniture they put out is of great quality.
“We are producing real furniture so that when our learners leave school, they have enough skills and expertise to work on their own. We have made ottomans, wooden spoons, and coffee/ study tables among other furniture pieces, some of which have been sold to the public.
It gives me such joy to see our learners invested in their craft. The look on their faces, once they finish the products, is also priceless,” said Ntando.
He added that the sale of these items gives the learners reaffirmation that they are on the right track and that they are producing quality products.
For clarity purposes, the funds made from the sales are channeled into the school, which helps to secure more material for the different projects that the learners embark on.
