Upgraded Woodcraft Centre for Learn to Live School of Skills
Author: Salesian Institute Youth Projects
The Salesian Institute Youth Projects has experienced both highs and lows during the past few months, opting to embrace it all. We are happy to report that our programmes are performing well.
At the forefront of all, honouring our Mission: “…we commit to providing for the physical, educational, and spiritual needs of youth at risk – regardless of religion, race, gender or nationality”.
The Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) made it possible for The Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) Learn to Live School of Skills, to reveal a brand new upgraded Woodwork Skills Centre through a 1-year funding agreement that enabled SIYP to expand the workshop facility and equip the workshop with new tools. “The objective is to build capacity in both students and facilitator through an improved learning space which best supports their needs,” said the Strategic Fuel Fund.
The Learn to Live School of Skills serves around 240 youth from at-risk backgrounds in and around Cape Town, no longer functional in mainstream schooling, the opportunity to gain education and vocational skills training over a 4-year programme.
The Strategic Fuel Fund opted to invest in the Woodwork workshop enabling SIYP to upgrade the workshop into a Woodcraft Skills Training Centre with brand new tools and equipment that will support the woodworks students in all four years of their programme, ensuring capacity building and upskilling of both the teaching space and learners.
The official handover of the Woodwork Skills Centre took place on 5 April 2022, with senior officials from SFF attending the function. “This grant was an incredible opportunity to upgrade the woodwork workshop and to increase the potential of our programme by giving our learners a space to be proud of as well as a space to nurture and grow their skills,” said Tony Austen, Principal of the Learn to Live School of Skills.
The Minister of Social Development in South Africa, Minister Lindiwe Zulu visited the Salesian Institute Youth Projects in February 2022. Minister Zulu visited community organizations in Cape Town that provide education, job training and job placement to young people affected by the country’s high unemployment rate.
During the Salesian Institute Youth Projects, Minister Zulu visited the Learn to Live Skill School, Porsche Mechatronics, Waves of Change Maritime Training and the Youth Work Readiness Program.
Salesian Institute Youth Projects together with the City of Cape Town Provides Opportunities for Youth "Not in Education, Employment, or Training" (NEET)
The Salesian Institute Youth Projects launched a NEET Youth Employability Programme in February 2021 with the assistance of international funders. Students for the pilot programme in 2021 were recruited from Hanover Park in Cape Town, to create a support structure within the community and facilitate change within that community.
The first 23 students completed their National Certificate in Small Venture Creation, a SETA NQF4 accredited certificate in February 2022.
The City of Cape Town, which also has been working hard to provide skills training to youth, this year found a partner in SIYP to facilitate a NEET training programme through the VPUU (Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading) project. The City of Cape Town approached SIYP to administrate a condensed 6-month version of the NEET Youth Employability Programme.
We are still actively fundraising for our full 12-month programme.
Stationary Donation SACSC & Crazy Store
The South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACSC) and The Crazy Store recently donated 250 stationary packs to the Learn to Live School of Skills. A wonderful donation that will serve our learners throughout their project-based curriculum.
A big shout-out to SACSC and Crazy Store!