New skills centre launched in Town Centre to empower youth
Graduates of the TCM Skills Centre celebrate completing their courses on Thursday August 14. The students represent communities across Mitchells Plain and are ready to use their new skills in baking, culinary, computer literacy, and sewing.
Image: Marsha Bothma
A new skills centre aimed at equipping young people with training to start their businesses or find employment has officially launched in the Town Centre, Eastridge.
The Alfidaa Foundation, in partnership with the Al Ikhlaas Trust and the South African Muslim Charitable Trust (SAMCT), opened the TCM (Town Centre Mosque) Skills Centre on Thursday, August 14.
Graduates of the foundation’s programmes, their parents, stakeholders, and friends gathered to celebrate the official launch and the students’ achievements at the opening event.
The centre offers practical skills training for youth. Al Iklaas trust provided the venue, and the SAMCT donated the equipment, which was refurbished at a cost of approximately R1.8 million, with classrooms, toilets, and the canteen fully redesigned and upgraded, said the manager of the centre, Shafiek Baboo.
The skills centre is part of The Alfidaa Foundation, an NGO based in Port Elizabeth, with branches in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, and Durban.
The organisation provides feeding schemes and skills training programs for disadvantaged communities. The TCM Skills Centre trains learners in patisserie/baking, culinary, computer literacy, and sewing. The centre has been operating since May, said Mr Bamboo.
The computer literacy group from left are Lee-ona Nathan from Montrose Park, Aashieqa Hendricks from Montrose Park, Bulelwa Fani from Delft, Aatiqah Benjamin, computer literacy facilitor, Phakama Awuwa from Samora Machel, Noluvuyo Tile from Samora Machel and Iviwe Tabata from Samora Machel.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Founder of Alfidaa Foundation, Nazir Munshie, said the centre aims to equip young people with skills to start businesses or find employment.
He said, “Wherever you come from, we face challenges like drugs and gangs. Skills training can change futures. We teach them how to make the cake and start their own business.”
"Youth is the powerhouse of the future. “We need to support and encourage them. This skills centre is a drop in the ocean, but as community leaders, we must grow those dear to us,” he said.
The patisserie and culinary group from left are Donna Jordaan, from Rocklands, Jami Abrahams from Lentegeur, Chadwin Pekeur from Eastridge, Shakeena Hoffman from Tafelsig Shafieka Isaacs from Tafelsig, Marcelle Strauss from Montrose Park, Beneta Malgas from Tafelsig, Laekicia Stevens from Tafelsig and Alethea Nelson from Montrose Park. Nokuphiwa Njobe from Masiphumelele Fish Hoek
Image: Marsha Bothma
Farid Boltman, trustee of SAMCT, said he saw the centre when it was a bare shell and added that it supports education, health, community development, and addresses rising unemployment, including the informal sector.
Hassan Sattar from the Al Ikhlaas Trust said the organisation noticed the lack of employment opportunities and made the space available to tackle the challenge. He said, “Our goal is to teach a man to fish, feeding him for a lifetime. We hope this centre will expand its role and support school-goers with other subjects. We encourage the community to connect with Alfidaa and bring people to the skills centre.”
The centre offers courses for youth aged 18 to 35, with no matriculation required.
A R250 registration fee applies. Courses include a one-month entry-level computer course, a one-month patisserie and baking course, a four-month culinary and cooking course, and a six-month accredited sewing course through SETA. All courses provide certificates of completion.
Aashieqa Hendricks, 17, from Montrose Park, said she completed a computer literacy course and ranked among the top students. She said, “It opened my mind to what I want to be as an IT specialist.”
Donna Jordaan, 29, from Rocklands, said she was retrenched in January and found a new purpose after attending the patisserie course. She said, “Losing my job left me unsure of the future. This course gave me the skills and confidence to bake from home and start my own small business. I am grateful for the teachers and the support I received.”
Donna Jordaan, 29, from Rocklands, said she was retrenched in January and found a new purpose after attending the patisserie course.
Image: Marsha Bothma
Chef Shara Seaforth, patisserie course teacher, said she encourages her students to believe in their abilities to be great, as nothing is impossible.
Chef Mikayeel Ntshidi, culinary course teacher, said that although classes are small, working with students has been great. "Some of them come from difficult backgrounds, but they're eager to learn and put their skills to action."
Aatiqah Benjamin, facilitator for the computer literacy course, said it is important to empower youth, helping those who haven’t finished school or who have given up on their dreams to realize their full potential.
For more information on course registration, visit register.alfidaa.co.za. Potential donors or sponsors can contact Shafiek Baboo at 076 617 9675 or shafiek@alfidaa.co.za.