GEORGE NEWS - A new community-driven training initiative aimed at improving employment prospects has been launched in Touwsranten, where unemployed residents attended the first skills development session hosted by Phoenix Locke and the Wilderness ISP Team at the Touwsranten Church on Friday 24 July.
The programme was established by Locke to equip unemployed residents with practical workplace knowledge and basic technical skills that could improve their chances of finding employment.
Each attendee will receive a certificate of attendance, while their names will be recorded for consideration for future ad hoc employment opportunities.
The basics
Addressing those attending the inaugural session, Locke said: “Today is an introduction to the basics of working safely and understanding common workplace information. Nobody is expected to know everything after one session. The aim is to know what to look for, what questions to ask, and when to stop and get help.”
The training began with an introduction to workplace safety, presented by André Goosen, where attendees learnt about the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), general site safety and how to identify potential hazards before starting work.
Attendees learn the importance of workplace safety during the inaugural skills training session. Photo: Supplied
This was followed by an introduction to common hand tools. Attendees were taught the correct use, care and storage of equipment such as screwdrivers, spanners, side-cutters, utility knives and hammers, with an emphasis on selecting the correct tool for each task, working safely and removing damaged tools from service.
Technical modules
The group then received hands-on instruction in reading basic technical drawings from Andries Visagie of Vision Draughting. Using simple network and building plans, they learnt how to identify titles, revisions, scales, symbols and dimensions, as well as the information that should be confirmed before any installation work begins.
Another module, presented by Heidi de Gasperi, focused on understanding payslips and employees’ rights. Attendees were shown how to identify key information such as earnings, deductions, payment periods and net pay, helping them better understand the information they receive from employers.
Unemployed residents from Touwsranten take part in the first workplace skills training session hosted at the Touwsranten Church. Photo: Supplied
The final technical module, presented by Julio de Gasperi, introduced the basics of fibre optic technology. Attendees learnt how fibre works, how it is joined and the importance of handling it safely. The session covered the dangers of looking into fibre connectors, the need to inspect and clean connections before use, respecting bend radius and pulling limits, and the safe disposal of fibre off-cuts to prevent injury and damage to infrastructure.
Collaborating for opportunities
Locke, who co-ordinated the programme, also introduced attendees to the basics of local area networking (LAN), while covering additional practical workplace concepts not included in the other modules.
The training reflected the growing spirit of collaboration between communities in Wilderness, Hoekwil and Touwsranten, where residents, businesses and community leaders continue to work together to create opportunities for those in need. Laurell Pelser of the Humane Society helped bring together key partners to make the initiative possible, while Cornerstone Creek Restaurant supported the event by providing tea, coffee and biscuits for attendees.
The presenters of various modules: Andries Visagie, Julio de Gasperi, Heidi de Gasperi and André Goosen. Photo: Supplied
Locke hopes the programme will become a regular initiative, providing more unemployed residents with practical workplace skills while creating a pathway to future employment opportunities.
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