Before COVID-19 attacked the world, about 350 young people in the province would gather at a Military Base in Heidelberg, Sedibeng for the annual youth development camp hosted by the Gauteng Department of Social Development through directorate of Sustainable Livelihoods.
But since the outbreak of the pandemic and subsequent restrictions introduced a year ago, the directorate will not be hosting this event in 2021. In the absence of the weeklong youth camp, Sustainable Livelihoods has decided to offer five-day training in Entrepreneurship to 200 learners.
Addressing the future entrepreneurs, Project Co-ordinator of Sustainable Livelihoods, Matome Modima, said with South Africa’s weak economy and sky-rocketing youth unemployment rate it has become difficult for both government and private sector to employ young people.
“This youth development programme will focus on Entrepreneurship and is open to previously disadvantaged youth and it is aimed at capacitate them with entrepreneurial skills,” said Modima.
He added that an entrepreneurial route was the direction the youth should pursue and bolster the economy, province, and communities.
“The training is run by the department in partnership with state entity the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) to change livelihoods. The Department played a role in beneficiary assessment, training venues, catering, and transport whilst Seda provides training manuals, facilitators and will also issue certificates in Entrepreneurship,” said Modima.
The Gauteng Department of Social Development funds 147 development centres across the province.
