​On Thursday - the Gauteng Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe opened the Bambisandla-Sam Centre of Excellence in Carletonville, West Rand.
The centre will help improve employability to the youth of West Rand by providing accredited skills development programs such as clothing manufacturing, hospitality training, which includes professional cooking and animals and plant production.

“The provision of skills development in partnership with the NPO sector is part of the Department’s sustainable livelihoods programme. We will continue to partner with such organizations in the province, that have similar objectives in their mandate of creating youth employment opportunities and reducing poverty. “As Social Development our mandate is to ensure we fight poverty, unemployment, and all forms of inequality. We have numerous programmes targeted at young people and we want to encourage young people to make use of them. That way, together we can defeat the scourge of substance abuse, sexual abuse, gender-based violence, crime and many other social ills that have gripped our youth. It is through developmental initiatives like the Centres of Excellence Programme implemented through the likes of Bambisandla-Sam NPO that we can offer young people an opportunity to live beautifully and perfectly, however they too must grab the opportunity offered to them”, said Mosupyoe.

She further explained that research has shown that lack of decent livelihood opportunities is one of the driving forces behind violence and organised crime and that empowering the youth is the key to lasting peace and sustainable development.

Many voices in government and civil society have called on skills development to be prioritised to address poverty, inequality, and unemployment.

“In addressing this challenge, as Social Development we developed the Centre of Excellence (COE) Programme Concept in 2015. This programme aims to integrate all the services offered within a Development Centre model, with the inclusion of the Job centre project and quality accredited training services. This programme has a community and youth service aspect delivered through its experiential work phase and develops pride in the youth working on these projects, and through this we aim to promote social cohesion and an active citizenry.

“As the Department we sought to have at least one Centre of Excellence funded annually in each of the five regions. And today we are pleased to be in the West Rand to launch Bambisandla-Sam Centre of Excellence. Bambisandla-Sam implements youth development programmes that provide youth with accredited skills mainly in the hospitality sector and links these young people to economic opportunities. And to the young people that have graduated and to those that are still in training here in Bambisandla Sam, remember to live courageously, live beautifully and perfectly. Nothing in life ever came easily, but with the skills attained here and innovation and patience you will succeed”,

Mosupyoe wrapped-up by presenting certificates to the 50 beneficiaries who graduated during the launch. They completed training in the following courses: Assistant Housekeeper, Cooks, Room Attendants, Bar Attendants and Plant Production.