This November marked yet another milestone for the Ndlovu Care Group (NCG) with the official opening of the Ndlovu Vocational Training Centre in Bloempoort.
The Non-Profit Organisation has a well-documented history and an exceptional track record of creating opportunities for orphaned and vulnerable children and youth in rural Moutse and surrounding villages.
It is well-known that South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country with the expanded unemployment rate sitting at over 40% and in rural areas such as Bloempoort this figure is even higher. This is in part due to a lack of access to further education and/or skills training as well a lack of employment opportunities. “The opening of the Vocational School is yet another expression of our commitment to realizing our vision of creating healthy, responsible and employable South Africans”, said NCG’s CEO, Dr. Hugo Tempelman.
At the Vocational Training Centre, learners are offered practical training various skills and can obtain qualifications in plumbing, carpentry, painting, bricklaying and electrical work. Since beginning its operations on the 10th of January 2022, the school has enrolled a total of Ninety (90) students, with the first group (28 learners) graduating on the day of the official opening on the 9th of November. Twenty (20) of the current learners are from the local community of Bloempoort while the remaining learners are from the mining community of Swartklip and form part of a partnership between NCG and Siyanda Bakgatla Platinum Mine (SBPM).
The Principal of the Vocational Training Centre, Mr Reason Katsangu, asserts that opening such a facility in one of the poorest communities in South Africa is monumental. “We don’t take lightly that we are actually changing the courses of these young people’s lives as well as the lives of their families; we are also contributing to reducing unemployment not only in our immediate community but in South Africa through our partnership with SBPM”, said Katsangu.
One of the students, Dimakatso Makalapa, took to the podium to express her gratitude to the donors and NCG for the opportunity to obtain a qualification in plumbing. “After completing high school, I sat at home for 2 years with no prospects of furthering my education and when this school was opened I knew I had to grab the opportunity so that I can better my life”, she said
Among the many esteemed guests were members of NCG’s donor community including Tjommie and, of course, the leadership of the Ruud Boekhoorn Foundation (RBF) from the Netherlands who contributed significantly to the construction of the school. The traditional authority was represented by the Chief Herman Mafiri of the Bapedi ba Ramaube Tribal Authority.
It wouldn’t be a celebration without song and dance! The guests were treated to a memorable and electrifying performance by the global sensation that is the Ndlovu Youth Choir who had just returned from a tour in America.
