Durban — Ukufunda Youth Development and Ukufunda Projects, a non-profit organisation (NPO) located at Witteklip Secondary aims to upskill the youth to become artisans in Chatsworth.
Craig Paul, chief executive of the technical training centre which is an NPO, said that he started the NPO three years ago.
He said they train the students with Schneider Electrical equipment because they are leading in the field and allow students to gain knowledge to acquire jobs in first-world countries.
Paul, from KwaDukuza, said that growing up he lived in a tin house, appreciated his father and studied engineering to make him proud.
He said that after working overseas, he decided to plough back in his soil through the youth.
Many of the youth come from broken homes, there is drug abuse and being idle on the internet.
Ukufunda trains students with a registration of R3 000 but they often end up being free for those who cannot afford it, he said.
“I do not have children of my own and through my work at Ukufunda, I am a parent of 3 000 kids now. Many of them have secured jobs in first-world countries and some in the municipality as artisans,” he said.
He also said they have managed to train 25 artisans in phase one.
“As long as I breathe oxygen I want to see youth working for their families and developing themselves,” he said. He added that they were planning on branching into uMlazi and other underprivileged areas.
Indran Pillay, a teacher at the school, said that when Paul introduced the idea of Ukufunda, he was immediately interested in it because he knew many pupils who had grown up and were now unemployed.
“I know those who are determined to succeed and those who are just bluffing. This initiative is amazing – up-skilling the youth, from learning about the soil to being an artisan,” said Pillay.
He also said that they work closely with social workers at the centre because they understand that many students are affected by social ills in their community.
“I believe in getting things done ourselves and not waiting for the government or any politician to save the day,” he said.
They will also start an agriculture project soon at the back of the school, he said.
“The urban agriculture project is important in assisting the community, not just by handing over food donations but by teaching them how to grow their own at home,” he said.
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