JOB CENTRE OFFERS HOPE
Photo Jen Miller
The long-awaited dream to officially launch the Love Howick Job Centre finally came to life last Friday. Speaking at the official opening of this initiative, which provides a bridge between job seekers and local employers, director Matt Hogarty said the project has been a dream for about three years.
He said the hope was that the Centre would help reduce the 30% unemployment rate. Developed to provide a ‘bridge’ between job seekers who have graduated from the various job readiness programmes offered by the Dream Centre, and prospective local employers, it is expected to be a win-win employment solution for our community.
It offers courses aimed at empowering the unemployed with entrepreneurial skills. Courses include job readiness, barista and waiter training, and computer skills, among others. “Both unemployment and poverty need to be reduced in our community,” said Hogarty. “The Love Howick Dream Centre and the Job Centre hope to tackle that in a meaningful and positive way.”
Sakhile Nameka, 23, from Mpophomeni, said the Dream Centre was like a home to him. “I am very proud of myself and how my life changed after I joined the Dream Centre,” he said. Thanks to the Job Centre he will shortly be starting a learnership programme at Build It in Howick.
Local employers who have hired graduates from the Job Centre
have all been pleased with their new staff. They said the centre also instils integrity and work ethics. Dream Centre lecturer Ray Gumbo said they work on three main problems they experience with their students: a sense of entitlement, a lack of excellence and changing the poverty mindset. “We’ve had people coming for our courses with little hope but once they are here they are able to submit a better curriculum vitae and are actually being called for interviews,” he said.
For further information on courses and how you might be able to assist the centre to keep its dream alive, visit their offices on 17 Bell Street in Howick or phone 033 330 3456 or email info@lovehowick.com.
AVBOB Funeral Parlour in Howick along with soccer fanatic and Howick SAPS member Sergeant Mpanza recently organised a tournament at the Howick West Sports Ground. The event involved football-mad youngsters aged 15 to 17.
“The purpose was to keep the youth in Howick busy during the school holidays,” said Mpanza. “We don’t want to see them turning into hooligans and smoking whoonga, then end up sleeping on the streets. We want to teach them respect, love and discipline.”
Hlengiwe Makhaye from
AVBOB said they wanted the community to know that they are around and willing to help out where they can.
“We are here for the community and we like being involved in bringing them together for a good cause.”
AVBOB sponsored the medals and trophies. The Mevana
United FC under-15 and under17 teams were overall winners of the tournament followed by the Highlanders FC under-15 and under-17 teams. Anyone wanting to contact AVBOB can call them at 033 330 3890 or visit their offices at Stockland Centre, Market Street, in Howick. a 100% pass rate at the school,” said Ngwane.
Former principal Jeffrey Ngobese said he liked how the school celebrated this year’s matriculants.
“It’s good seeing the students in their uniforms,” he said. He had no doubt the pupils would produce good results as they always did.
Speaking to the matriculants, he advised them to focus on their books and study hard.