As South Africa commemorates Youth Month, community activist Tasmien Losper of Sydenham and her dedicated team of volunteers are thrilled to welcome the first group of young learners to the newly established Sydenham Skills and Training Centre, located above Sydenham Pharmacy.
Founder of both the TAS Humanitarian Centre and the Sydenham Skills and Training Centre, Losper said the initiative was born out of a pressing need to uplift young people by offering practical skills and opportunities. “We started the centre after seeing how many young people lacked direction. Our goal is to get them off the streets, equip them with knowledge, and provide them with entrepreneurial skills,” she said.
In collaboration with sponsors Sydenham Pharmacy and the KZN School of Welding, the centre offers short weekly courses for youth aged 18 to 35 from various parts of Durban. “Learners who register with us complete a three-day course. They are then assessed, and those who pass receive accredited certificates from MSETA through the School of Welding,” Losper explained.
The centre is also working on a partnership with the Department of Education to support young people without a matric certificate by introducing afternoon classes to help them complete their schooling.
“We also assist aspiring entrepreneurs to register their businesses and help them with basic marketing. However, we are still in urgent need of sponsorships, donations, and support from local businesses and the community,” she added.
Losper appealed to businesses to offer job opportunities to learners once they’ve completed their training and to donate essential items such as training materials, desks, and chairs.
Currently, the centre can accommodate 15 learners at a time. NQf level 2 courses offered include: entrepreneurship, numeracy, literacy, verbal communication skills, written communication skills, sme development programme, and safety in the workplace.
“We are excited to expand and introduce more courses in future to accommodate a wider range of career interests,” said Losper.
Paul Naidoo, founder of the KZN School of Welding, has played a key role in supporting the project. “We have sponsored soft skills courses (NQF Level 4), welding tables, and courses in welding, architecture, boilermaking, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry—valued at over R50,000 per student,” he said.
Naidoo emphasised the importance of training in building the country’s economy. “The key to industrial and commercial development is a skilled workforce. Investment in training is investment in the future.”
