GATELAPELE YOUTH SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND CONSULTATION (NPO) 133-594 in Khuma township, is aimed at improving the leadership capacity and the building of leaders of grass-roots community initiatives through a process of lifelong action learning (GULL) Program. GULL stands for Global University for Lifelong Learning, this program is designed to integrate the training (formal) and (informal) to ensure that more skills are developed in our South African townships. Considering our different levels of education, knowledge and experience attained, formal education does not exclusively provide a way of people improving themselves. The GULL methodology is used for peer-to-peer learning and personal growth.
What skills and resources were you able to draw from the community for this project?
At our venue youth can do internet searches, printing, faxing and get access to other advisory services on how to to obtain further training or employment. Graduates are advised on how to start their own business or enhance their employability. They can attend a six-month basic computer skills training with practical experience and proper evaluation. We have SVGA Computers from NWU Potchefstroom for Basic computer program and an Enterprise Development Program (Junior achievement South Africa). Gatelapele youth skills development and consultation managed to register as a Cisco academy assistance by SAAYC South African associations of youth clubs.
The challenges
In order to assist unskilled and semiskilled youth in the community with development and educational programs to improve, Gatelapele focuses on encouraging youth to start their own business and advertise entrepreneurship opportunities as a way of combating challenges such as unemployment, crime, early pregnancy, depression, substance abuse.
Addressing the challenges
By using the GULL methods, we are providing team building activities, teach administration skills and conflict management for young people. We share with learners information about various careers and provide the option for them to register on a unemployed youth database. We also provide information related to learnerships, internships and application forms. In addition, we facilitate work readiness advice and career mentorship. Access to information for matriculants to apply for bursaries, learnerships and where entry level jobs are also available.
The achievements
Since the conception of this programme we have trained 800-900 people. Gatelapele has partnered with North West University and has a 3D Printing Machine where community members can get training to utilise this technology. From 2020 we plan to start a toy manufacturing organization in order to create more sustainable income streams and further investment in local small enterprises. We now have a strategic plan for 3 D printers. For all partners we provide a Gatelepele objective, a Bacha Tshwelopele objective, a personal action plan for Bacha Tshwelopele and a support person responsible and target dates for next phase of training. We try to assist with various fundraising processes. Our enterprise development training has been rolled out to 200-1000 entrepreneurs over ** years and the organisation has also received Gold certificate in SMME development from Dr Kenneth Kaunda Department of Social Development.
Johannesburg, South Africa