In July 2023, Knysna hosted the much-anticipated Garden Route Skills Summit and Career Festival.
Organised by the Garden Route Skills Mecca (GRSM), a product of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) and its stakeholders, the annual event brought together community members from across the district with a shared vision of equipping the youth with essential skills for future career development and driving resources to rural areas to stimulate career growth.
GRSM was born after the devastating Knysna fires in 2017. Its primary objective was to rebuild the community, which had suffered immense destruction. The skills mecca aimed to foster unity and resilience, empowering the youth through skills development.
Over the years, the organisation has held several successful summits. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in July 2023, the Garden Route Skills Summit returned to Knysna in full force.
During the summit, distinguished panelists led by Dr Florus Prinsloo presented pragmatic solutions and strategies for investing in skills development.
The event witnessed the presence of notable figures, including the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) Mayor Memory Booysen, who remarked: “The Garden Route Skills Summit and Career Festival is vital in shaping our district’s future. By investing in skills development, we are paving the way for a stronger economy and empowering the youth to build promising careers.”
Amongst the prominent industry leaders who attended the event was the Acting Executive Officer of the National Skills Fund (NSF), David Mabusela, who said: “It is heartening to witness the commitment and collaboration among stakeholders at the Garden Route Skills Summit.
“The efforts to empower the youth with skills for the future are commendable. At the National Skills Fund, we are proud to have different interventions in this region that aim to upskill the people of this region through our implementing partners.”
The NSF supported the GRSM with a substantial investment of more than R709 million in the region over the years.
The funding will equip 7,175 beneficiaries with the necessary skills to find employment and venture into entrepreneurship.
The NSF’s interventions in the area encompass a range of government and private partnerships, including projects like TVET Phase III, artisan development, and bursaries. These initiatives create sustainable solutions for skills development and employment opportunities. With such far-reaching interventions, the NSF aims to empower the youth and uplift communities, leaving a lasting and positive impact on the region’s socio-economic landscape.
The festival allowed over 800 unemployed individuals and school-going youth to interact with various Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and public and private training providers.
Schools from the Knysna area also participated enthusiastically. A parent who was accompanying her child, Jane Murray said: “Our students have gained valuable insights from the career festival. It has given them clarity about their career choices and a sense of direction for their future.”
The success of the Garden Route Skills Summit and Skills Festival underscored the collective determination to foster a skilled and prosperous future for the region.
The annual event continues to convene relevant stakeholders, furthering the mission of the Garden Route Skills Mecca and reviewing progress on an ongoing basis.
With a focus on empowering the youth and investing in skills development, the Garden Route District Municipality and its partners have set a commendable example for other communities to follow in building a brighter tomorrow.
The NSF’s generous support ensures that this vision will be realised, benefiting thousands of young individuals and contributing to the growth and development of the Garden Route district.
Picture: Dr Florus Prinsloo, coordinator of the Garden Route Skills Mecca
By Asanda Msileni, a deputy director of the National Skills Fund
