Umdoni youth equipped with new skills

In order to assist Umdoni youth combat unemployment, the municipality welcomed 57 youth members to its Soft Skills Development Programme held in Umzinto last week.

The aim of this programme was to impart business knowledge and skills and form businessmen and women out of the beneficiaries.

“This enthusiastic group underwent a three-day training in various business competencies which included baking where 14 people were trained, nine in florals and décor, ten in makeup, eight in nails and 16 in catering,” explained Sphelele Cele, Umdoni Municipality’s communications manager.

Umdoni mayor, Councillor Sibongile Khathi, was present during the programme and at the launch ceremony mentioned that the imparted knowledge and skills by seasoned entrepreneurs will be instantaneously beneficial to those who are part of programme as they can immediately work from home while they await the formal processes of registering their businesses.

“We prioritise youth development as the youth are the future leaders of our communities,” she said.

“Our youth form an integral part in the development of our communities, and it is therefore pivotal that we create a conducive environment for them to thrive so that they are able to continue advancing the current government’s agenda of ensuring that the previously disadvantaged are given opportunities to develop themselves and their communities.”

The skills development programme motivated many youngsters overall taught them to seize opportunities like this that come their way. This will in turn allow the Umdoni youth to contribute positively to the economy, decrease the town’s unemployment rate and break chains of poverty.

“As the saying goes, if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day, but if you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime, and this is exactly what we tried to do,” said Ms Cele.

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