We offer a variety of SETA Accredited and Entrepreneurial Training Programs in: - Hospitality Studies (Professional Cookery, Food & Beverage, and Accommodation Services) - Bakery - Butchery - Woodwork & Upholstery - Beauty (Barber, Hairdressing, Nail Technician) - Early Childhood Development - Needlework & Crafts - Homebased Care and HIV/AIDS & Palliative Care. Our vocational training programs are accompanied by our VUKUZENZELE – Work Readiness program, the objective is work place preparation, we operate the Centre to mirror that of a professional working environment, students follow a code of conduct to instill, time management, communication, discipline and self-confidence. Additional programs are implemented to increase student’s life skills, financial knowledge.
What skills and resources were you able to draw from the community for this project?
We are non-government funded and are therefore solely reliant on the support and generosity of corporate and private donors to continue our successful operation, we continue to build on existing donor relationships and proactively fundraise for future funding opportunities. Over our 13 years of operation we formed valuable partnerships with in each of our programs employment sectors, these partnerships enable us to assist our students in opening doors for future opportunities.
The challenges
A decision was made 13 years ago by the Management board of the Eastern Province Children's Home to incorporate an extension program under their organisation, after extensive market research into the primary needs in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropole it was decided to launch a skills development training centre focused on the empowerment of youth 18-25 residing in the most severely poverty stricken areas of the metropole. The vocational skills trained as well as our work readiness programs elevates our students employability enabling them to gain formal employment or to become entrepreneurs.
Addressing the challenges
Empowering Youth for 13 years the Ray Mhlaba Centre has successfully trained 1380 students in vocational skills development programs, Our current employment statistics detail an 82% employment rate post student graduation..The impact of our Centre reaches further than the individual, our student’s success positively contributes to their societies, improving the lives of their families and communities. Our student’s success is a commendation to our Centre’s impact, our students return regularly to inform us of their success and to thank us for believing in them when they had no belief in themselves.
The achievements
We have been in operation we have successfully trained 1380 students from underprivileged backgrounds in vocational and social development skills. 82% of our graduates have gained formal employment or have become successful entrepreneurs. We have students who are successful business owners and traders, students who are employed locally, nationally and internationally.
Johannesburg, South Africa