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Business
Learners at the skills centre .
Ohlson de Fine , states that the organisation ’ s mission is to break the cycle of “ no experience means no work , and no work means no experience ”. With the skills and knowledge the learners gain from Umphakathi , they can confidently display the experience that they have gained . Still , they need funds to continue to do what they are doing , and it ’ s Ohlson de Fine ’ s vision to have several Umphakathi hubs all over South Africa .
Umphakathi means “ community ” in Zulu , and it is not only community that drives the project , but community that benefits from it , too .
Umphakathi offers a comprehensive programme . Learners have the opportunity to discover how various industries work together in order to drive the economy , from those who plan events and do catering , to those who do the electrical work and plumbing to make all of this possible .
And while they are learning , they are improving the buildings in and around the skills precinct as well as other buildings on the projects that they work on outside of Umphakathi . This in turn improves the living conditions of their own families and their broader communities while improving the prospects for these young people who are so eager to apply themselves .
Gandhi , so long ago , championed empowerment . No doubt he would have been impressed and overjoyed to see Ohlson de Fine ’ s vision unfolding not so far from where he once began his journey to greatness , as a lawyer in the heart of Johannesburg . What great futures await these determined young people at Umphakhati ? Great ones , we are certain . RACA
“ Learners have the opportunity to discover how various industries work ”
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RACA Journal I June 2024 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za