Start a skills development school

I strongly agree with the proposed idea and yes it's a much needed initiative that could be beneficial for the community and future of our youth. The downside of things related to projects like these is that after completion/ skills, Unemployment still becomes an issue and continues to rise even when you have appropriate skills certificates furthermore it's very much unlikely for one to find employment at local municipalities where some technical or Handy/labour skills are frequently needed because CoCT Recruiters are pretty much all to themselves/internal rather than focusing on external recruitment. Look around you, Storm water drains blocked,Flooding everywhere and so many things whereas these things could have been avoided if proper channels of employment where provided to the people.

This is an inspiring and a much needed initiative that speaks directly to the future of our youth and communities. However, to truly maximise impact, we must intentionally align it with South Africa’s structural realities particularly the mismatch between education, skills development, and actual economic demand. Our country continues to face deeply rooted structural challenges: high youth unemployment, unequal access to quality education, and limited pathways into skilled trades and entrepreneurship. As a result, many young people are funnelled into low paying, entry level jobs that offer little opportunity for upward mobility or long term financial security. To address this meaningfully, we need to sharpen the focus on critical and scarce skills aligned with national priorities e.g plumbing, electrical work, project management and entrepreneurship. These are not just jobs; they are pathways to economic participation, business ownership, and community upliftment. While soft skills remain important, they should support not replace practical, income generating skills that are in high demand. With the Granger Bay Development on the horizon,as mentioned in the SONA address there is a clear and urgent opportunity to prepare our youth to access the jobs that will emerge from this development. The key is to act now, with intention and urgency, so that local communities are not once again excluded from opportunities happening on their doorstep. Instead of primarily preparing our youth for call centre roles, we should be encouraging them to identify and develop the talents they already possess to translate those into sustainable livelihoods. The reality is that many call centres, is owned by UK and USA companies, offer starting salaries of around R5,000 for a Grade 12 graduate. While this may provide short term relief, it reinforces a cycle of low-income dependency rather than addressing the structural barriers that keep people trapped in poverty. If we invest just a few more years max 3 years into building scarce and practical skills, we begin to shift not only individual outcomes but entire community trajectories. We move from a system that produces job seekers into one that develops job creators. That is how we start to dismantle the poverty cycle embedded in many of our marginalised communities. The goal should not simply be employment it should be empowerment, ownership, and long term economic inclusion. We must teach our youth to fish, not just hand them the fish. We have many retired, unemployed professionals who can assist with skills transferring and aid with enabling our youth building generational wealth. I trust and believe that when you get the space to start your intitiative be intentional with your idea.

We in Atlantis got skills school, but in the real world it's tuff for our children, yes there is good employers, if some companies can come and see what good work the children do, maybe offer learner ships that they gain some experience, some don't have work experience

Great idea. Youngsters need hope and opportunity to develop. It is our duty to make that happen.