Image: Gallo Images / City Press / Herman Verwey
Urgent interventions are needed to eliminate the frightening 31.1% unemployment rate in Buffalo City, and Job Journey, a local initiative, is stepping in to fulfill this desperate need.
At 49.7%, the Eastern Cape currently has the second highest unemployment rate in the country despite the increase in jobs in manufacturing and the informal sector. This is because jobs in trade and agriculture have declined rapidly.
The Job Journey course, facilitated by faith-based community leader Bill Brander, is a free two-week training programme for Buffalo City’s unemployed youth, which equips participants with essential soft skills, workshops on building a comprehensive CV and presentations on job interview etiquette.
Brander said the programme would assist East London and Mdantsane jobseekers with an opportunity to build professional experience and job application competency.
The programme was introduced in Duncan Village and Nompumelelo and is in its third run in Mdantsane. The seven participants will receive a certificate upon completion and be assisted to find employment.
Nahoon Community Outreach and Scripture Union have organised and sponsored the course. Scripture Union’s Sandile Gobozi said faith-based institutions had been assisting in job creation because they understood the tough financial constraints congregants and communities were facing.
“Scripture Union has chosen to take the programme directly to where the need is greatest to better connect with the people we aim to serve,” Gobozi said.
The concept of the Job Journey course was co-created by the Cape Town-based organisations Common Good and The Fincoach Foundation. It was tailored to address employers’ calls for the youth to be prepared to work.
This is the first course to take place in East London, and Brander has expressed that he desires to see the programme help other communities in Buffalo City in the same way.
”The Job Journey focuses on personal growth and a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to succeed in today’s job market.
“Often, employment programmes are offered only in suburban centres.
“We want to change that and bring necessary information to all communities,” Brander said.
