Frank Julie - YoungPeople@Work Newsletter nr. 14. November 2016

A voice for unemployed youth

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Young People Speak!

Issue 14: November 2016

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Note from the Project Director:

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Welcome to the 14^th issue of Young People Speak!
In this issue we focus on:

On our intensive computer and life skills courses
Our free computer and online job search training at various libraries
Placement of unemployed youth in jobs and learnerships
Our Youth Empowerment Weeks at Bellville library
Internal staff and volunteer training
Our outreach to rural youth in Graafwater, Nababeep and Nuwerus
Assessment and placement of unemployed youth in the Southern Cape
Our support for unemployed youth to register for matric
Marketing, media and branding
Upcoming workshops and computer training

Enjoy the reading and please send us your feedback!

Computer classes and life skills training for employment in Bellville and Bishop Lavis

Our 3^rd semester computer classes came to a successful end in September with our 4^th semester classes currently in progress. Unemployed youth were trained in Introduction to computers, typing skills, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Internet and email. They were also exposed to various life skills workshops such as professional job seeking skills, personal development and leadership, money management, customer relations, basic office and bookkeeping skills. Participants future employment preferences were also captured on our employment database for future follow up and after care.

This is what Relicia Achmat had to say:
“The first time I came to the Computer classes at YP@W I was scared as I didn’t know what to expect. The facilitators are very friendly and helpful. They do not have a problem to explain things more than twice, if you do not understand it. I learnt a lot and can’t wait in the afternoon for the class to begin. I will surely recommend young people who are sitting at home, unemployed to come to YP@W to improve their knowledge and equip them with computer training. They prepare you for the workplace and they assist young people who wants a better future or even old people who want to be empowered in some way.”

3^rd semester students at the Bishop Lavis training centre

4^th Semester students at the Bellville training centre

Restructuring of our free online job search training

Due to persistent cable theft causing disruptions at various libraries where we present free online job search training, we decided to restructure this programme. We decided to use our own laptops to provide the training. This means that we are not depended on the resources of the libraries anymore. We are also able to now travel to more libraries where the need for this training exists. We have recently targeted Delft, Bishop Lavis and Adriaanse libraries as we still experiment with the new approach. Unemployed youth are training to use a computer, word processing, design a CV, open a free email and Facebook account. They are also exposed to various websites advertising jobs in Cape Town and uploading their CVs. After their training they are referred to our life skills workshops and other free training opportunities.

Doreen with her participants at Delft library

Khuthazwa with her participants at Bishop Lavis centre

Youth Empowerment and Life Skills Weeks at Bellville library

The hall of Bellville library was packed to capacity in August, September and October as we presented our free Youth Empowerment and Life Skills Weeks for unemployed youth. We were joined by our partners such as Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, RLabs Social Media Academy and the National Youth Development Agency. CVs were completed and assistance provided to open up email accounts. Training was provided in professional job seeking skills, personal development and leadership, basic office admin and bookkeeping and Intro to computers. Referrals were made to Northlink (for those wanting to complete matric) and Dreamworker for job placements.

Referrals to complete matric and clothing learnerships

Our team has been very busy referring hundreds of potential candidates to Northlink College and other Community Learning Centres to complete their matric. Our Facebook page was swamped with requests for information. Interested people only needed grade 7 to qualify. Right is 29 year old Mariska Van Niekerk in our Bellville afternoon class who proudly completed her matric. She passed with flying colours and wants to encourage unemployed youth out there to continue working on themselves.

Waseefa Roberts sent us this message via Facebook:

On day 1: "Thanks so much...I will go to their (DEPT) offices in the new day...and take papers along and best part it’s all free lol...thanks again for your platform.”
On day 2: “Registration done...all I need to do now is study, study, study. I will receive my exam timetable in the post.”

Assessments for job placements of unemployed youth in Mossel Bay, George and Plettenberg Bay

During September 2016 our partner, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator requested support in mobilising unemployed youth in the Southern Cape. Obviously, we were too happy to oblige with this request since the lives of many unemployed youth would be change by accessing jobs. Shirley De Jongh and Frank Julie travelled to the region and met with stakeholders to assist. Venues were secured and youth contacted for initial assessments. We hope to soon hear feedback about how many candidates were eventually employed.

Unemployed youth were also referred to a clothing industry learnership

Aziza Mclean from Gerli Clothing sent us the following feedback:
“Good Day Shirley De Jong and Frank Julie. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for posting our advert on your Facebook page. I had quite a few interested candidates that came to apply for the training and 12 of them were successful. I am still getting messages on WhatsApp regarding the post of your Facebook page, so hopefully tomorrow I’m getting more candidates to join our training programme. Due to the success of your Facebook page, I have posted another advert on your page, Please allow that post to go viral as well. Many Thanks”

Our student, Carlyn Abels, wrote:

"My name is Carlyn Abels, I'm ending off my six week computer course this week. I just want to take a little time to thank YoungPeople@Work and my brilliant facilitator Clothilda Petersen. Over these past few weeks I learned a lot regarding computers, how they work, what they can do and myself. I became more outspoken after attending the workshops that Mr. Frank Julie conducted, you Sir gave me the confidence to step out in the world and be my true self. Thank you YoungPeople@Work and Clothilda for changing my life for the better. I stand up every day with a passion for taking on life and its challenges. No more hiding behind people and circumstances, I want to stand in the front row with my chest out and a big smile welcoming all challenges. Here I am, take me on, I'm ready...I've learned from the BEST!!”

Master Trainer the Trainer course offered

This 3 day intensive course was hosted in October for 8 participants from various organisations and facilitated by Frank Julie. Bursaries were allocated to 2 participants referred to us by St Johns Ambulance Service. Participants were trained in theories of adult learning, methods of learning, different types of learners, phases of facilitation, stages of learning, the training cycle, evaluation methods, etc. An ex-student, Linda William, was a

Linda William in action at the TTT workshop

guest speaker at the workshop. Without having matric, she recently completed her accredited skills development facilitator course after being awarded a bursary worth R7500. She inspired the participants never to stop learning and improving themselves.

Staff and volunteer development

As part of our programme of continous staff and volunteer development, our director presented a workshop on effective money management to teach members the principles of budgeting, rules of using money, debt management, cultivating income streams, understanding credit profiles, etc. We also hosted a special session with Professor Dan Moshenberg from the USA, on the value of informal learning in adult education.

Rural outreach to Namaqualand youth

Our director, Frank Julie, reached out to youth in Nuwerus and Graafwater to teach them about professional fundraising skills. These youth are active in their communities through Youth Banks, a project of the West Coast Community Foundation. Members of the Youth Banks raise funds in their communities and then distribute the funds to needy projects to uplift their communities.

Follow up on our Eastern Cape Road Tour

After the visit by our director, Frank Julie, to Kusile project in Mgwali village near Stutterheim in the Eastern Cape in July (see our previous newsletter nr.13), they made some serious waves! Directed by Thobeka Mapukata, who only started the project less than 2 years ago, they recently won 3rd place for the best agricultural and food security project! Their prize money was R265 000!!

Marketing and branding our services

YP@W has designed a uniform for its members based on our new logo. In the photo is Lizelle Kock, showing off her new shirt! We also featured in various articles in newspapers, spreading our message of youth empowerment.

Upcoming workshops in 2017

Youth Empowerment Week:
Professional job seeking skills – 23 January 2017
Basic office admin skills – 24 January 2017
Basic bookkeeping skills and customer relations – 25 January 2017
Personal development – 26 January 2017
Effective money management – 27 January 2017

Computer training
1^st semester computer training – 30 January 2017

Please support our work amongst unemployed youth!

YoungPeople@Work is managed entirely by volunteers who do not earn any fulltime salaries. About 50% of all current expenses are covered through self-generated income and volunteer labour! Your support is welcomed to sustain our work amongst unemployed youth! Help us to fix South Africa for those who will inherit it!!

Account name: Young People At Work
Bank: FNB
Branch: Parow
Code: 250655
Acc. nr. 62388828190
Type: Business Cheque

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Tel: 021 823 7837
Cel: 073 820 1534
Email: youngpeople.za@gmail.com
Website: YoungPeople@Work

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