SA Affordable Housing November / December 2017 // Issue: 67 | Page 6

NEWS
Laying foundations to
empower the community
Corobrik recently implemented a nine-week bricklayer course for
the Swellendam community.
Vanessa Faro lays bricks across the top of a window opening.
T
welve Swellendam community members completed
Corobrik’s training course in March and are now
empowered with skills for suitable employment in
the construction industry.
“We have been successfully running a number of NQF-
level bricklayer training courses out of our three training
centres at Avoca, Lansdowne and Lawley for a number of
years now with fantastic results,” says Christie van
Niekerk, Western Cape Corobrik manager.
“In our continuous effort to meet the needs of these
community members, we recently introduced the nine-
week bricklayer programme which is specifically aimed at
creating employment opportunities for local residents by
enhancing the public facilities in small, rural towns.”
The Western Cape training centre, headed by Ismail
Rothman, Corobrik building training coordinator, are not-
for-profit with attendees sponsored by various
organisations such as the Swellendam Tourism Economic
Empowerment Partnership (STEEP).
STEEP is a project implemented by the Swellendam
Tourism Organisation (STO) in partnership with the Jobs
Fund, Swellendam Municipality, Western Cape Provincial
Government, WESGRO and others. The three-year project,
which started in January 2015, aims to create jobs, provide
skills training and unlock new enterprise opportunities for
the benefit of disadvantaged communities of the
Swellendam municipal area. At the same time, it grows and
sustains local tourism and related economies through
enhanced destination marketing and management.
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NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2017
AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING
Frank Croy practises the basics of laying a brick wall.
There is particular focus on improving the lives of women,
youth, disabled, the elderly and those who have never
been employed.
The 12 candidates sponsored for the training
programme all came from the Suurbraak, Buffeljagsrivier
and Railton communities and were taught bricklaying
practices and life skills, which enables them to establish
their own businesses.
As Swellendam is a popular tourist attraction, the
graduates – who received Certificates of Achievement –
will be able to build braais and other public-use facilities in
and around the area.
Farouk Davids, skills training co-ordinator of STEEP,
says that all the candidates expressed interest in
self-improvement.
“The key considerations in the selection process were
people interested in bricklaying and having some
experience in the building and construction environment,”
says Davids. “They aim to become part of a skilled workforce
and are willing to put in the hard work to achieve that.”
STEEP also works to engage the trainees in meaningful
employment following the training process.
“During the training, we work with the local
construction and building industry about possible
employment opportunities,” he says. “A highlight was co-
ordinating a local building and construction industry forum
where the trainees were introduced. We are continuing
discussions with construction companies that expressed
willingness to provide job opportunities.”