In an attempt to alleviate social ills the Academy of Youth and Community Development Opportunities (AYCDO) presented a community outreach development expo project, at Die Duine Primary School, in Lotus River, on Tuesday September 22.
Pastor Charles Jacobs, coordinator of the project, said AYCDO consulted with Ward 65 councillor Patricia van Der Ross, community leader, Reverend Rebecca Como, of Eye on the child, a non-profit organisation, as well as partners who offered employment opportunities, skills development training and further educational training (FET) for Lotus River residents.
AYCDO is based in Bonteheuwel but delivers upliftment and outreach projects such as job creation, employment opportunities and FET development opportunities to all communities.
Their medium of networking is via church leaders, community organisations and community developers who request these services to be offered to their respective communities.
Mr Jacobs said: “Every year we enrol 200 students at TVET colleges for career development. At their conclusion of their successfully completed course we then provide them with internship opportunities.
“We also provide 300 students with learnerships to equip them with skills development training opportunities with our network developers who offer them a variety of learnership resources. We then place them into vacancies for employment opportunities,” he said.
Ms Como said the initiative focused on alleviating problems such as poverty, gangsterism and teenage pregnancy prevalent in Lotus River and surrounds. “We identified drop-outs at primary school level and there were 13 year olds walking around uneducated. Now there are small courses on offer for Grade 6 and Grade 7 learners at Die Duine.”
Ms Como said she was happy with the outcome of the expo. “Our youngsters will have the opportunity to get jobs or study further.”
Ms Van der Ross, said different colleges came out and displayed opportunities for students. “The Department of Labour will be giving an employment opportunity to the community. However, we need the labour department to come out to different areas of the ward to get as many unemployed young people registered.”
For more information on this project, contact Mr Jacobs on 065 576 5797.
