With South Africa facing a skills shortage in many trade related disciplines, including the electrical field, the Peermont Education Trust (previously East Rand Youth Trust), a youth upliftment initiative of Peermont Group Limited, is intent on making inroads into this shortfall in Ekurhuleni.
"We are well aware that for our economy to prosper we need young people with degrees and diplomas but are just as conscious of the lack of trained electricians, fitter and turners, millwrights, nurses, chefs and waiters in our society," says the Trust's chairman, Monde Tabata.
It is for this reason that the Trust, through its Lesedi Programme, has for the past five years, assisted young people from Ekurhuleni further their education in these practical areas of study.
Lesedi Programme student and Rondebult resident, Motsusi Mokake who is learning to be an electrician at P&T Technology in Germiston thanks to the Peermont Education Trust. During his course Motsusi will learn to install, repair and maintain electrically operated equipment.
With most young people not naturally seeking out these trades for a number of reasons - be it lack of information or just a feeling that these skills are out-dated and out of fashion - it is heartening that a group of 42 students recently graduated, through the Lesedi Programme, at a ceremony at Emperors Palace.
Of these, 10 will be entering the electrical field after concluding learnerships at P&T Technology in Wadeville and can now look forward to careers as electricians having been taught to install, repair and maintain electrically operated equipment, amongst other skills. They also now have the ability to specialise in various fields, such as domestic and commercial electrical systems with a number of these latest graduates already gainfully employed within the Peermont Group but also in the business sector at large.
While students are selected firstly for their ability to demonstrate a passion for their chosen field, they are also required to pass the entrance criteria of the respective institutions where they do their learnerships and trades, such as P&T Technology.
"The trustees also provide life skills training for students and assist them with job seeking, ensuring that the programme has a successful outcome.
"In this way South Africa's skills shortage is being addressed and unemployed youth are being given a chance to become gainfully employed, adding to the economy in a very real way," says the Trust's manager, Jenny Findlay.
This group of Peermont Education Trust Lesedi Programme students successfully completed their electrician course learnership at P&T Technology in Germiston and graduated recently at a ceremony at Emperors Palace. They are, in the front: Simon Mokwele (Katlehong), Nthabiseng Machete (Katlehong) and Thulani Moeketsi (Vosloorus) and at the back: Monde Mhlahlo (Wattville), Mandla Tshabalala (Tokoza), Daniel Mosia (Duduza) and Tshidiso Mohlala (Wattville). With them are Chairman of the Peermont Education Trust, Monde Tabata (front second left) and Peermont Chief Corporate Affairs Executive, Vusi Zwane (front second right).
While Buhle Park resident, Simon Mokwele graduated as the top electrical student and received special recognition at the Emperors Palace ceremony, it is noteworthy that the Trust is giving young women taking an interest in trades previously dominated by the male workforce a chance to pursue their chosen careers.
"In our latest group of graduates Nthabiseng Machete showed she is just as capable as the male students completing her Electrical NQF level 2 learnership and another student, Mbalehle Nkosi was successful in her aircraft structures course.
"In our latest intake of students we also have Jane Mokoena who is learning to be a fitter and turner, showing gender does not matter; when you have a passion for what you do, then the sky is the limit and the Trust will support you!" adds Findlay.
Commenting on following her chosen career Machete had the following to say, "The first few months were not easy, I had to work with men and that was a bit difficult in the beginning because they wouldn't let me do anything and that didn't go down well with me. But, in due course they accepted me and taught me most of the work.
"I have worked hard and showed initiative; and I've been exposed to how demanding this work is... and know I have to be open to learn because there are always new things in this industry.
"There are challenges that arise and it is how I handle them that really matters."
