CRAFTING SUCCESS: NOKUTULA’S JOURNEY
With youth unemployment rates soaring, it has become crucial to provide avenues for skill acquisition and economic empowerment. With a mission to instill valuable skills, the Just Grace Phakama! Youth Activation Programme offers a path for youth to break out of the NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) cycle and acquire the skills necessary for meaningful employment opportunities. Our course has three streams, all aimed at holistically developing youth with both the technical skills and soft skills for success.
Among our many graduates who have found amazing employment opportunities stands Nokutula, a resilient young woman whose journey from student to employed exemplifies the transformative power of skills development programmes and Just Grace’s efficacy in nurturing talent and fostering self-sufficiency.
A TESTAMENT TO RESILIENCE AND AMBITION
Nokutula’s enrollment in our programme in 2023 began at a crossroads in her life. She had graduated from matric in 2017 but had been unemployed for six years. Nokutula completed our Phakama Skills Development Programme sewing stream and emerged from the programme as a proficient seamstress. One of Nokutula’s favorite aspects of the course was our holistic approach, which strongly emphasizes professional and personal development training. She remarked, “Just Grace is not only giving us skills but teaching us how to face the real world, giving us the opportunity to prove what we are capable of.”
Upon completing the course, Nokutula was assisted in finding a one-year learnership at Rowdy Bags, a trendy Cape Town company known for its quality leather product craftsmanship. As part of the Rowdy Bags team, Nokutula has been learning the intricacies of bag making and has gained invaluable experience in the industry.
A Budding Entrepreneur Emerges
Nokutula’s internship has ignited her passion for the industry. Fueled by her newly acquired sewing skills, she took a bold step towards entrepreneurship by purchasing her own sewing machine and she has now began crafting her own line of cosmetic bags, which she sells in her community. Each piece is a testament to her skill and artistry.
IMPACT BEYOND MEASURE
Nokutula is an inspiration to other young people, encouraging them to
pursue their passions and seize opportunities for skills development. Her
journey is a testament to her resilience and a reflection of the profound
impact of skills development programmes in helping youth break out of the NEET
cycle. Initiatives like the Just Grace Skills Development Programme play a
vital role in this transformation.
As we celebrate her
achievements, we also reaffirm our commitment to nurturing talent, fostering
innovation, and building a brighter future in our community.
