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Today, the Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Albert Fritz handed over graduation certificates to 59 young people from the Eden Karoo Region who completed the Youth Skills Transfer (YST) Programme.

The YST programme is a partnership between the Department of Social Development, the Community Chest and Cape Nature, and was borne out of an extensive seven month ministerial youth outreach initiative which covered all six regions from January - July 2015.

The young participants come from the communities of Mossel Bay, George and Knysna. They underwent training and workshops offered in two blocks of five days each. The workshops covered basic principles and practical skills in;

•     project management
•     event management
•     financial management
•     business skills
•     resource mobilisation
•     marketing and life-skills

The YST aims to reach 390 youth and the programme will run from August 2015 to March 2016. Participants will also be given exposure to the events industry in their local areas, and will be provided with a toolkit for career and personal advancement.

Our non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners, the Community Chest, will provide a coaching and mentoring service to the participants by providing online and telephonic counseling and networking support. The youth will be linked to existing opportunities within government, the private sector and other civil agencies, and will be supported and guided when they want to start up their own enterprises.

The Department of Social Development will continue to play its part in delivering on the Provincial Youth Development Strategy, and expand services and opportunities to youth in the province. We can give young people opportunities to unlock their full potential if we continue to work, ‘Better Together’.

Issued by Western Cape Social Development