Training for 70 future female earth moving equipment mechanics

“IT’S NOT EASY being a woman in a maledominated world, but we are definitely going to make it!”, says Mbali Dlalani, one of 70 female trainees doing 3-year apprenticeships as heavy earth moving equipment mechanics with Barloworld Equipment.

Dlalani attributes her positive attitude and persistence to the 8-week training programme she underwent with Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator prior to taking up the apprenticeship.

Harambee searched its database of more than 300 000 assessed candidates for women who had completed matric with maths and English and invited them to attend a work seeker support session where they completed a battery of tests and assessments appropriate to the requirements of the role: looking at spatial awareness, mechanical reasoning and visual acuity.

The successful candidates then embarked on an 8-week work readiness programme, which included working on their numeric ability, literacy levels, communication skills, problem solving and judgment and health and safety awareness. Because of the unusual job situation they were going to face, Harambee also worked with them on emotional quotient, conflict management and physical training.

Mandiphiwe Levani, a key account manager at Harambee, said designing a bridging programme for a very specific customer need was typical of Harambee.

“We love it when our clients approach us to do something we’ve never done before. We’re prepared to do whatever it takes to get more of South Africa’s young people employed.

“This is one of the most exciting projects we’ve worked on.” – Barloworld Equipment