WEEG for FET Project
The WEEG for FET Collegesproject was borne out of a willingness to collaborate in order to change the lives of young graduates for the better. The W&RSETA, Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), the 6 Western Cape Public FET Colleges and W&Remployers formed a partnership in order to offer much needed workplacement opportunities to graduates.
This project set out to train 300 students from across all 6 FET Colleges in the WC and then offer them placement with retail employers for a period of 13 months, in order for them to gain valuable workplace experience. 392 Students volunteered to attend a retail induction programme. Students were selected and interviewed from this pool and placed with 31 Employers from the Retail sector. Some of these students succeeded to obtain permanent placement outside of the project because of this training.
246 Students were selected to start their work placement programme from 1 December 2010 onwards. Students were placed in their hometowns ranging from Knysna in the Southern Cape to Vredendal on the West Coast.
As a result of this project, unemployed graduates are more employable due the experience gained over the last 13 months. Employers gained new insight into what the FET College Sector has to offer and now acknowledge the capacity of the FET Colleges to deliver skilled young people into the economy.
Success Story
As a result of SETA’s placement program, I started my marketing internship at Shoprite Head Office on 14 Dec 2010. It was one of the most exciting and yet terrifying days of my life as I had just completed my studies and had no working experience. Walking into the biggest retailer in Africa, amazed, is how I would describe my emotion at that time! If anybody had told me that I would be interviewed for a position at Shoprite a few weeks prior to my interview, I would have laughed at them. Nothing could prepare me for what was about to come. Meeting the Marketing Director really inspired me a great deal, I mean he’s 30 years old and he’s the ‘boss’ of the entire group’s Marketing department - that’s just crazy!
Meeting the team was an amazing experience; all of them are so young and made me feel welcome and part of this amazing team immediately. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the “upstairs marketing team”, which consisted of the Shoprite & Checkers strategic Projects Manager, Complementary Business Marketing Co-ordinator and Collaborative Marketing Manager. I can’t stress enough how much I have learned from the discussions and debates we had in the office, they played a big part in my development - their support, guidance and encouragement will always be remembered and appreciated.
The biggest highlight was probably meeting my line Manager, Francois Hanekom (Head of Non-food Marketing). We could not have been anymore different, he a big sport fanatic, whereas I’m a big nerd. However I can truly say that if it wasn’t for him I would not be here today, he not only helped me on a professional level as I am now permanently employed since Nov 2011, but also personally, which has helped me to grow so much as person over the last 14 months.
Africa Skills Village New Venture Creation Project
The objective of the ASV project was to assist 25 persons with disabilities to generate an income and to become self sustaining individuals. The training programme aimed to provide them with the skills to establish and run small businesses within a co-operative environment, as aligned to NSDSIII Indicator 4.3.
This project impacted enormously on the learners that were involved in the project in many dimensions of their lives. Besides enabling them to start their own small businesses, they felt that it uplifted their self-images, self worth and gave them standing and respect in their communities which they had not experienced before.
All 25 learners successfully graduated from this programme.
Khayalethu is a remarkable and inspiring young man;
motivated to reach his dreams despite physical challenges.
He was part of the group of 25 people living with
disabilities who registered for the W&RSETA funded learnership n 2010.
His motivation and leadership abilities were evident since the first day, as he walked 4 kilometres to class, despite his physical disability, on a daily basis. Kayalethu is a motivator by nature and leads by example. The group soon nominated him as the class leader dubbed with the nick name: Castrol (oil that makes the wheels go!).
He was brave enough to submit a tender for cleaning services at the George Municipality during the closure phase of the learnership. The tender was awarded to him and he is now putting his newly acquired skills to the test.
We wish Khayalethu great success with his business venture and trust that his positive attitude will motivate other people to reach for their dreams and to perservere.
Cycle of Life Project (Mitchell’s Plain DsTV Festival)
This festival aimed to promote greater levels of social cohesion between various communities as well as to create business opportunities and training for local SMMEs. Trading and training opportunities were created for 200 local residents from Mitchells Plein, Khayelitsha and the Greater Cape Flats area.
SETA regional staff worked in shifts to ensure representation at the SETA stall from Friday 25 till Sunday 27 November 2012.
A Gala Evening was hosted for the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Me Patricia de Lille.
Learner comments included the following:
Carola Samsodien: “During the fourth day of the programme I had a call from a company and was able to use the assertiveness learning in the telephone interview. The caller commented that I sold myself very well!”
Saul Markgraff: “This course also made a change in my approach to towards my business”
Yanga Zimani: “Late last year I started a Meat Braai Business. I thought I was doing business the right way, until I attended the course. The training has taken me to understand how to Manage my Finances and Customer Services. I am going to uplift my community”
Nadia from Nadia’s Tuckshop wrote: “I started my business and had very few customers then I received this great opportunity to go on a business course that was sponsored by W&RSETA. I implemented what I have learnt about housekeeping and marketing and how to sell my business. More customers are now buying from me and my profit has gone up.”
Success Stories