EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Continued from page 1
OTTC launches
Try-a-Trade initiative
By Ilana Koegelenberg and Cherry Ellis
All other photos by Cherry Ellis
The students, together with OTTC staff, proudly displaying their artisan sculpture.
The TAT programme provides young school leavers with the opportunity to try a trade and learn more about the HVAC & R industry. The aim of the project is to increase awareness about the HVAC & R industry, while equipping the students with the necessary skills that will make them premium candidates for employment and development. Finding talent and commitment can be a time-consuming activity for any company. In keeping with tradition, the end of the TAT programme and prize-giving were celebrated with German fare at the college on 25 April 2018.
CDAA INVOLVEMENT
The Open Trade Training Centre( OTTC) would like to thank CDAA for their support throughout the project. A generous sponsorship of R60 000 from CDAA at the end of 2017 was doubled to provide training for school leavers.“ Instead of putting the money into the coffers of OTTC, we chose to double the sum and offer two weeks of free training to 12 school leavers wanting to follow a career in the trade of refrigeration,” explained Döbelin, director at OTTC.“ With the training, the youngsters would not have to first find employment before entering the job market. Many young people today
spend months and even years after leaving school before they find employment. After our two weeks of training, they would be much better equipped to find employment and encouraged to gain vocational training in refrigeration,” she said.
OTTC immediately advertised the offer of free training on their website, via Facebook, and locally at shopping centres. From the responses, they convinced nine applicants to take part and they started training in April. They were split in two groups and each group started with workplace health and safety, followed by safe use of hand tools.
“ As is our tradition at OTTC, it is not only about the curriculum: we also try to make it interesting and so I came up with an artistic project for the past few days,” said Döbelin.“ On my many visits to friends in Bayern in Germany, I had seen a piece of art done in refrigeration piping. I had taken a photo of the artwork, which I then gave to the nine learners as a project.”
The German artwork was made of steel, but the students had to do theirs in copper because of the CDAA sponsorship.
“ Before they had finished the piping project, I had to leave on a business trip to Germany and on my return was very impressed at what I saw,” said Döbelin.
Derek Oberholster with the copper elephant that he made with the skills learnt at OTTC.
TRAINING PROGRAMME to HVAC & R, as well as broadened their During the TAT programme, OTTC assesses horizons by discussing the numerous career students’ skill levels, as well as eagerness to opportunities available in this industry. learn and work. With the assessment results, One of OTTC’ s first students, Martin Mc candidates can be reviewed and are highly Eneaney Nel, who is now head lecturer recommended for employment by OTTC. at OTTC, also spoke to the candidates
During the two weeks of initial training, and shared some of his past experiences the nine students took part in various training while working in refrigeration and air sessions. Döbelin introduced the students conditioning.
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