The Dynamic Youth Development Service (DYDS) is a skills development initiative supported by the National Skills Fund (NSF) with a funding commitment to implement a learnership programme for unemployed young persons with disability.
The NSF approved R20 million for DYDS for a two-year period, from April 2021 and ending in March 2023, for skills programmes in Pietermaritzburg, uMgungundlovu District.
The project has a total of 100 beneficiaries. Fifty learners received training through the technical support system learnership programme, while another 50 received training in end-user computer programme.
With the growing number of young person’s not in employment, education, and training (NEET), employed persons with disabilities in South Africa stands at less than one per cent of the 500 million persons who live with a disability worldwide.
There are a significant number of young persons with disability that continue to struggle to access resources and find employment opportunities.
Through this funding, the NSF aims to address the national developmental goal of addressing poverty, unemployment, and skills demand within the country.
Project beneficiary Simphiwe Sithole says the programme has been an eye-opener since she is interested in fixing things.
Sithole says the technical support learnership boosted her skills. She is now part of a group that formed the Greenland Cooperative to empower other persons with disabilities. She is considering starting a business in the technical support industry.
Speaking about her journey, she says: “I met the recruitment criteria for the technical support system learnership. It was an eye-opener since I like to fix things and am more passionate about bringing things to life,” she says.
A third-level student enrolled in end-user computing Nkanyiso Mchunu from Scottville in Pietermaritzburg, says the programme has helped him expand his knowledge and increased his awareness of important computer applications and software.
He says he looks forward to obtaining his certificate in record time and furthering his skills join the labour market.
Picture supplied by Dynamic Youth Development Services: technical support system learnership beneficiaries during a visit by the NSF in March 2022
By Sandile Msomi, NSF graduate intern (2021 – 2023)
