IT training programme launched
In an effort to help young people in Khayelitsha to thrive, Siseko Technologies launched the IT Systems development NQF level 5 programme in partnership with Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICTSETA) at the Shawco centre in Khayelitsha on Monday September 5.
A total of 45 young people from Khayelitsha had been selected to take part in the year-long programme aimed at teaching them various IT-related skills.
The training will be for between four and five months after which they will be placed at various companies in order to gain work experience.
Founder of Siseko Technologies, Mziwoxolo Mayedwa, said the participants will earn a stipend of R1 800 so that they could at least have some means of income.
“I think it is time that we start taking universities from where they are to the townships so that they could provide the much needed information and guidance. When I grew up I lacked so much information that I even went to university five years after I had passed matric.
‘’I want to see this programme equipping the youth into become job creators and have an advantage when looking for employment opportunities because they have a qualification in their hands.
“One of the key reasons why we have pushed for them to be provided with a stipend is that we understand that they need to provide something and that could make them to be fully part of the programme because they have to worry about finding a job.
‘’The minimum requirement that one must have in order to apply for this post is they need to have a matric and at least have gist of how a computer works,” he said.
Mr Mayedwa, who hails from the Khayelitsha and currently works as a lecturer at the University of Western Cape (UWC), said he started the company as a systematic development company but he later learnt he would make an impact if he shifted his focus into training and capacity building.
He then opted to focus on IT, technologies and system development because that is his area of expertise even at the university level.
Talking about challenges facing the company, he said getting proper venues to hold these trainings still remain the key stumbling blocks on their journey.
He said in the past they also had problems with break -ins but despite these one thing that keeps him going is the fact he understands the difficulties of coming from a disadvantaged background.
Provincial parliament speaker, Masizole Mnqasela urged the youth to grab such opportunities with both hands.
He indicated that it was time that young people especially those who hail from Khayelitsha make education fashionable. He applauded the young people for taking a bold decision in equipping themselves with various skills.
Khayelitsha Development Forum chairperson, Ndithini Tyhido, praised the trainees for taking a massive step in changing their future.
He said as the KDF they applaud such companies which seek to uplift young people especially in these tough economic times.