CTIA skills development programme sees 45 graduate with house building skills

The runway realignment plan at CTIA requires that the three informal settlements of Freedom Farm, Malawi Camp and Blikkiesdorp be relocated in order to secure its future expansion plans and, together with the city, a formal housing development is under way. As part of its commitment to these communities, CTIA is assisting community members in providing them access to key house building skills which include bricklaying, carpentry, painting and plumbing.

“Skills training such as this immediately makes these community members more employable and will hopefully help to improve their access to work. We are immensely proud of the 98% pass rate, something for which the students must be commended,” said Deon Cloete, general manager, Cape Town International Airport.

“The specific focus of upskilling community members will afford them greater opportunities to become entrepreneurs or to look for job opportunities as skilled artisans, bricklayers, carpenters, painters and plumbers – all valuable and important skills needed for our growing economy, and we are pleased that these newly skilled graduates are now ready and able to enter the job market,” said Executive Mayor Dan Plato.

Further learning opportunities

As a continuation of this programme, ACSA plans to provide further scholarships to students who qualify to complete the 12-month comprehensive Community House Building programme and the recognition of prior learning programmes. Through Northlink College’s student support services, students eligible to continue their studies through the Nated programmes will be assisted to apply for NSFAS bursaries.

“With our pending expansion programme at the airport, we intend sourcing skilled resources from various communities surrounding the airport for our projects, which makes these skills key,” said Cloete.

“These students have risen above their current circumstances and have shown tenacity in seeing the programme through. One of the students managed to complete the programme despite being pregnant and giving birth during the process. The communities see the value and are determined to complete the courses presented to them,” he added.

The partnership with Northlink College has also seen 12 community members from Freedom Farm benefitting through an early childhood development scholarship offered by the Western Cape Education Department. The 12 students commenced with training in early childhood development in January 2019. ACSA made a contribution to the funding to ensure the students are transported from the community to the campus.