Unemployed Eastern Cape youth are set to receive much-needed computer skills via loveLife’s Business for Social Change programme.Conducted at their various Y-Centres situated across the country, the programme seeks to empower school leavers from seven different provinces.
Senior manager for Business for Social Change at loveLife, Peggy Pillay, said the computer lessons formed the second phase of a three-phase programme.
According to Pillay, the first phase, conducted in 2015, involved 675 youths who underwent 12 months of basic entrepreneurial lessons.
The second phase involves 200 youths who have signed up for computer competency training where they will be taught issues like Microsoft Office, operating systems and e-mail.
Fifteen have so far signed up in Mthatha, with 24 in Stutterheim.
The training is free of charge.
“What we did is partner up with the private sector so we could secure funding in an aim to develop the youth,” Pillay said.
“We focus on in-school youth as well as out-of-school youth and both groups have benefited from this programme.
“This is a social change programme aimed at giving youth entrepreneurial skills which they could use to find jobs or to start up their own businesses one day.
“So if you are unemployed and have Grade 12, then you take part in this programme.”
For phase one, participants had to find a local mentor within the business world, develop a business idea and hold an entrepreneurial day where they would market themselves to invited business owners.
Because of the technological advances in trade, Pillay said computer lessons formed a necessary second phase, with the third phase involving a business modelling and design bootcamp which starts on February 1.
“Here we will focus on things ranging from drawing up business plans, understanding business models and how to pitch to potential investors,” she said.
According to Pillay, of the 450 youths who took part in the programme last year, 211 are either now employed or have set up businesses.
“Some haven’t started trading yet but they have set up their businesses and they know what services they will be providing,” she said.
“What we did is we told the youths to look around within their communities and find whatever service or products were lacking and see how they could bridge the gap.”
Anyone wanting further information on the training is urged to visit the loveLife Y-centre. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
loveLife boost for unemployed youth with computer skills
Conducted at their various Y-Centres situated across the country, the programme seeks to empower school leavers from seven different provinces.
Senior manager for Business for Social Change at loveLife, Peggy Pillay, said the computer lessons formed the second phase of a three-phase programme.
According to Pillay, the first phase, conducted in 2015, involved 675 youths who underwent 12 months of basic entrepreneurial lessons.
The second phase involves 200 youths who have signed up for computer competency training where they will be taught issues like Microsoft Office, operating systems and e-mail.
Fifteen have so far signed up in Mthatha, with 24 in Stutterheim.
The training is free of charge.
“What we did is partner up with the private sector so we could secure funding in an aim to develop the youth,” Pillay said.
“We focus on in-school youth as well as out-of-school youth and both groups have benefited from this programme.
“This is a social change programme aimed at giving youth entrepreneurial skills which they could use to find jobs or to start up their own businesses one day.
“So if you are unemployed and have Grade 12, then you take part in this programme.”
For phase one, participants had to find a local mentor within the business world, develop a business idea and hold an entrepreneurial day where they would market themselves to invited business owners.
Because of the technological advances in trade, Pillay said computer lessons formed a necessary second phase, with the third phase involving a business modelling and design bootcamp which starts on February 1.
“Here we will focus on things ranging from drawing up business plans, understanding business models and how to pitch to potential investors,” she said.
According to Pillay, of the 450 youths who took part in the programme last year, 211 are either now employed or have set up businesses.
“Some haven’t started trading yet but they have set up their businesses and they know what services they will be providing,” she said.
“What we did is we told the youths to look around within their communities and find whatever service or products were lacking and see how they could bridge the gap.”
Anyone wanting further information on the training is urged to visit the loveLife Y-centre. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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