The Free State Department of Economic, Sustainable Development and Tourism (DESTEA), in collaboration with Vaal University of Technology (VUT), the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), recently held a certificate ceremony for youth who completed the cellphone repair program.
This initiative aims to empower local youth by providing them with technical and entrepreneurial skills, preparing them to work as qualified cellphone repairers and to start and maintain their own businesses, ultimately creating job opportunities.
Zandile Twala from Kroonstad, one of the entrepreneurs who completed the program, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to DESTEA, VUT, HCLS, NEMISA, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and the NYDA.
“Your collaboration and commitment to empowering youth through entrepreneurship, digital skills, and business knowledge have had a profound impact on all of us here. You didn’t just teach us about managing a business or repairing cellphones; you equipped us with the tools to build a brighter future.” She said.
Zandile emphasized that they would carry the knowledge gained with pride, continue to support one another, and build businesses that would not only sustain them but also uplift their communities.
Lefu Moshoeshoe from Bothaville added that the extensive training had been instrumental in shaping their entrepreneurial journey.
“DESTEA, we are deeply grateful for providing us with business skills. Your investment in our growth and development is a testament to your commitment to empowering individuals and communities. Thank you for your tireless efforts, expertise, and support,” said Moshoeshoe.
MEC Ketso Makume concluded the ceremony by stating that this impactful program exemplifies the department’s unwavering commitment to leaving no one behind.
“Today, we are not merely witnessing a graduation but the emergence of business opportunities, the rise of innovation, and the beginning of economic transformation driven by the hands and minds of young people. The skills acquired should serve as tools for independence and instruments of entrepreneurship. The equipment and toolkits provided through this program are not gifts but investments meant to unlock business opportunities and enable market penetration,” MEC Makume concluded
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