Pretoria – The first batch of National Human Settlements Youth Brigades have arrived in Thabanchu, Free State, for the Character-Build Training programme.
A group of 200, including 104 young people, from the Western Cape and 94 from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality arrived in Free State on Sunday for a four-month rigorous training.
The group was chosen to attend the programme, which focuses on principles of the nation building, voluntarism and patriotism, among others.
This follows the signing of a Youth Accord by the Department of Human Settlements in collaboration with various youth formations and other institutions of government in December, last year.
The Youth Accord aims at inspiring young people to take advantage of opportunities in the build environment. The long-term aim is to create a crop of builders and construction workers who are well supported and sustained through coaching and mentorship.
The Implementation of the Youth Brigade includes training on character-building for the Youth Brigades by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform through the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC) programme.
At the end of a four months training, 200 Youth Brigades will be placed at FET Colleges for artisan development in different trades.
The department, through the National Home Builders Regulation Council (NHBRC), is already negotiating with the relevant FET colleges for the placements.
The Youth Brigades will also do experiential learning on the catalytic projects to be rolled out across the country by the Department of Human Settlements.
During the send-off ceremony in the Western Cape, on Friday, Deputy Minister for Human Settlements, Zou Kota-Fredericks, urged the youth to make the very best of this opportunity as it may be their first and last in life.
“You must always remember that discipline and responsibility are the fundamental founding blocks of success. Go there and represent the youth of the Western Cape and South Africa at large,” said Deputy Minister Kota-Fredericks. – SAnews.gov.za
