Published by Tebogo Katsedi from Noweto Record
Hammanskraal youth with an interest in agriculture are invited to apply for the agriyouth skills development programme 2022. The programme, facilitated by Rebafenyi Development Centre and the Gauteng Department of Social Development, will run the fi ve-month accredited training programme, said centre project co-ordinator Malibongwe Xaba (36).
Xaba said the youth will be given the skills needed for working and establishing an agriculture enterprise. “Through the programme we will be training 50 learners from Marokolong for an NQF Level 2 plant production certifi cate, an accredited AgriSETA short course while 50 learners from Suurman will be trained for an NQF Level 4 new venture creation certificate accredited Services SETA.
Xaba said the centre is working with relevant experts and entrepreneurs in the relevant sectors to assist the growth and development of the learners. “This is done through a handful of mentorship sessions to prepare them for the many opportunities in the agriculture sector,” he said. He said the need for the programme was identifi ed in 2019 when Rebafenyi was involved in training, developing, mentoring and establishing cooperatives in the plant production business in Gauteng. “The programme is funded by the GDARD in partnership with the Rand Water foundation to ensure that youth in Gauteng get interested in the agriculture space in order to become role players in the mainstream economy,” he said.
He said once the youth are trained, the plan is to place them in jobs for 12 monthsas part of Work Integrated Learning (WIL). “The entrepreneurs will be assisted with the establishment of cooperatives and SMMEs in the agricultural space with a focus on plant production and new venture creation,” he said. “It would be more impactful if we expanded our programme beyond the classroom and explored how these learners can fi nd sustainable solutions that go handin-hand with what they’ve learnt.
Xaba said Rebafenyi wants to aff ord learners opportunities like job placements and access to resources like vegetable seedlings and tools. “We also want them to be able to access funding opportunities for their business ventures and supply chain markets to name but a few. “We believe that just because you grew up in a disadvantaged community doesn’t mean you are disadvantaged. “That is why we saw the need to work in Hammanskraal which is a semi-rural area with a lot of unemployed young people seeking opportunities,” he said. Xaba said young people of Hammanskraal have a love of working in the agriculture space.“This is because of the access to vast land, the youth there have opportunities to create self-employment in farming,” he concluded