YOUNG people in Ilinge will continue to benefit from a construction workshop by the National Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC) and will form part of the rectification programme of houses affected by natural disasters recently.
NHBRC provincial training officer Abongile Ntloko said the programme was in partnership with the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM).
He said the local authority’s special programmes unit identified the 20 beneficiaries.
“We work with unemployed youth from the areas where there will be rectification programmes. This is a pilot project and will spread to other areas. We started with technical skills for three days and an accredited programme will follow.”
The beneficiaries of the programme would be able to make a living and offer an affordable service to people who wanted to extend or build their homes.
NHBRC has a mandate to protect housing consumers and provides quality control measures.
Ntloko said the training and skills given to the youths were an invest-ment that would provide for families.
The beneficiaries were upbeat about the training, saying it had opened a window of hope for many. Sinazo Ndlukwana said the training meant a lot for her as chances for females in the construction industry were minimal. She now considered herself a future employer.
Another beneficiary, Welcome Nokepeyi, said the training came at the right time as work opportunities were scarce.
“We will be able to register our own companies or work as co-operatives with the new skills. I am grateful for the opportunity.”
