The Gauteng Department of Social Development in conjunction with various government departments and Non-Profitmaking Organizations (NPOs) hosted a poverty alleviation program to empower residents of Lotus Gardens at the Rearabilwe Development Centre, Tshwane.
The program is aimed at bringing different government departments together to assist communities to move away from the shackles of poverty to self-sustainability through information sharing sessions in different communities.
Patience Maponyane, from Department's Sustainable Livelihood Directorate in the Tshwane Region said, "The department together with its funded NPOs offers free skills training for out- of-school youth, assist them to be employable and this changes the livelihoods of their families.
She said that young people are also encouraged not only to focus on seeking employment but also venturing into entrepreneurship and cooperatives that could employ more people into small businesses.
Gladys Makwela from National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) said that young people whose business ideas qualify for grant program, depending on their individual needs, will also undergo some of the NYDA's non-financial support services. These may include mentorship, business consultancy services, market linkages, business management training program and youth co-operative deployment program.
Thabiso Mokwele from Agricultural Research Council said theirs is to train those who wish to trade in agricultural products and market their crops.
The various departments also exhibited their services as part of information dissemination.