MANDELA METRO Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture Youth Desk co-ordinator Siphiwo Rwentela has called on the youth to embrace learnership programmes to enable them to contribute to the country's economy.
Speaking at the launch of the Local Economic Development Learnership here yesterday, Councillor Rwentela said learnerships gave the skills and knowledge, but that it depended on the learner to find and make use of the opportunities created by obtaining these skills.
The learnership is a partnership between the Mandela Metro, the Local Government Seta (LGSETA) and Port Elizabeth College.
"You are sitting in a Metro of gold. The opportunities are there, you must just go and look for it, it will not come to you. You must tell yourself right at the outset that you will achieve what you are setting out to do," he said.
Rwentela said the learnership programme was a partnership between the government and the citizens to ensure that all shared in the economy.
"The local economic development officer requires unique skills and it is important that you make the most of the 12-month course and not drop out along the way," he said.
Local Government Seta (LGSETA) provincial manager Patrick Nini said the learnership was important as it sought to assist the Mandela Metro in developing a sustainable local economy.
"With these skills we are grooming people to take the country forward and sustain its economic development," Nini said.
He told the learners the learnership was a new field and they would be the first people to decide the way forward and therefore had to be able to work independently and be proactive.
"South Africa is still new to the Local Economic Development concept and the Metro can prove to the rest of the country that it is possible to start and maintain new programmes."
Nini applauded the Metro for allowing the Setas to launch the Local Economic Development learnership and added: "It makes me proud to note that it will also include disabled people."
Merle Cherry of PE College said that success demanded a team effort from a management perspective, but the learners ought to accept responsibility for their own learning.
"You will be accountable for your own actions and what we want from you is true commitment and active participation," she said.
Source: BuaNews
Presentation for Seminar
