TOLOMANE CENTRE EMPOWERS YOUTH IN PORT SHEPSTONE WITH SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING

By Trevor Khuzwayo

• A group of 40 young people in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, are ready to put their newly acquired skills to the test.
• The group took part in a six-month skills development and entrepreneurship programme held by the Tolomane Mnyayiza Youth Development Centre in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency.
• Along with entrepreneurial skills, participants also learnt several practical skills including plumbing, cooking, clothing manufacturing and end-user computing.

Forty young people from Bhobhoyi, Port Shepstone, have completed a comprehensive skills development and entrepreneurship programme held by the Tolomane Mnyayiza Youth Development Centre in partnership with the National Youth Development Agency.

The initiative has equipped young people from disadvantaged communities with the practical skills and business acumen needed to launch their own ventures and contribute to the local economy.

From July 2024 to January 2025 participants honed their abilities in various fields, including plumbing, professional cooking, clothing manufacturing, and end-user computing.

A compulsory Leadership and Life Skills Development Programme complemented the technical training, focusing on the essential soft skills needed to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and personal growth.

The programme culminated in two intensive workshops in January 2025: Start Your Business training from 20 – 24 January 2025, followed by Pitching and Polish training on 30 – 31 January.

These workshops provided the aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills to develop robust business plans, refine their pitches, and prepare to launch their ventures.

Many of the participants, who come from families that rely on social grants, demonstrated their dedication throughout the programme.

“These young people have shown incredible determination,” said the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development’s director of the Youth and Women Directorate, Xolani Makhwasa.

Their commitment to self-improvement and their eagerness to contribute to the local economy are truly inspiring.

“They’ve faced significant challenges, but they’ve embraced this opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their families. We are incredibly proud of their achievements,” Makhwasa added.

The success of this programme highlights the importance of investing in skills development and entrepreneurship training for young people.

By providing the necessary tools and support, programmes like these empower individuals to break the cycle of poverty and create a more prosperous future for their communities.