UKUWELA
George, South Africa
DESCRIPTION
UKUWELA
Carpe Diem School is a government school for learners with disabilities in George, South Africa. During 2017, Carpe Diem launched ‘Ukuwela’, a skills training and employment programme for learners with disabilities. Ukuwela is an isiXhosa (the African language of this region) word which means ‘to cross over’. The programme was initiated to address the unacceptably high unemployment rate amongst school leavers.
Ukuwela aims to develop the potential of each learner to enable access in employment opportunities which contributes to the economic empowerment and the restoration of dignity of learners and their families. It is the only school-based employment programme in South Africa which identifies, places and supports learners with disabilities in employment after school.
To date, 30 learners with disabilities have accessed employment opportunities in the open labour market in activities including computer, hair and beauty, barista etc. The programme also supports the skills training needs of 120 school-going learners.
One of the main priorities is to advocate and raise awareness amongst businesses / companies that people with disabilities can and want to work.
IMPACT / MAIN INDICATORS
Main objectives:
• improved skills sets of learners with disabilities (75 school-going learners with disabilities per year)
• Improved employability and rate of employment (10 school leavers with disabilities per year)
LOCAL
PARTNER
Selection
Duration
Project selected in September 2022
Multi-year project: 3 years
Financed
by
Comgest Asset Management
International Ltd
COMMENT FROM THE AMBASSADOR
Slabbert Van Zyl
Ukuwela is proud to report that nine of our candidates have successfully reached the one year mark at their respective places of work. In addition, we have enabled access to employment for three new candidates who we continue to support. Two candidates participated in three month internships to gain work experience and build their skills. As part of our efforts to develop the vocational abilities of our school-going learners, a total of 153 attendances were recorded of learners who participated in work exposure opportunities hosted at eight different places of work across various industries. Ukuwela facilitated two brand new skills training courses to build specific skills for the hospitality industry. These courses, ‘Housekeeping’ and ‘Basic Food Hygiene’ were presented by NQtac (accredited skills training provider) to our senior learners. 18 learners also completed their computer course in basic computer skills with another 14 learners completing a course in basic public speaking. Local collaborations include working with the University of Cape Town (UCT) and local authorities such as the Garden Route District Municipality.