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Skills Development and Social Upliftment in South Africa - An Overview

Despite South Africa's 15 years of democracy, we are left with many of Apartheid's legacies. One of these is the chronic shortage of skilled professionals, managers and artisans. The reasons for this are varied, but the root cause lies in the inferior quality of education that was imparted to the majority of the population and the regulated, yet irrational patterns of population settlement that were enforced by the Apartheid government.

The most severe consequence of this lack of skills is unemployment - a state endured by many South Africans. However, even for those unskilled workers who are employed, it is not smooth sailing as those who are employed to carry out menial or unskilled tasks also suffer because of the small wages they earn, their unpleasant and sometimes dangerous working conditions and the fact that when there are cutbacks or retrenchments, it is always the unskilled labourers who lose their jobs first.

These trends have a significant impact on the high level of poverty and the limited access to information and technology that many South African's experience. In a cyclical fashion, skills shortages and HIV/AIDS go hand in hand, worsening the problems that result from both.

The Impacts of the Skills Shortage

The lack of skilled professionals in the workforce and the resultant number of unskilled labourers has a number of impacts for our economy.

The first is obviously that it propagates the cycle of poverty because parents raise children in poor homes and they grow up equally unskilled and without much opportunity to change their circumstances. This is of particular concern in the rural areas where the skills shortage is magnified. Many people leave these areas, with the intent of relocating to urban areas where there is a greater chance of them finding employment. However, this has serious implications for pressure on infrastructure and service delivery. This overcrowding that is common to poverty-stricken settlements, both formal and informal, is accompanied by a host of other problems that includes the spread of diseases and a shortage of basic resources. In addition, there are macro level consequences that result from the lack of skilled workers, the most concerning of which relates to economic growth. Economic growth is inhibited by this problem, not only because of the poverty that results from it, but because of the inadequacy of the skills base, and the limits to economic expansion that is imposed by such. While the government continues to try and meet the basic needs of South Africa�s poor, little is being done to encourage skills development. Those initiatives that are in place target too few people or lack in capacity and most, if not all, of these charity projects rely on donations.

African Charities Propagating Skills Development and Social Upliftment

Fortunately there are charities in South Africa who are helping to meet the skills development needs of South Africans. These organisations range in size from small grassroots groups that teach basic skills to only a few people to large scale non-governmental organisations who proved skills based education for large groups. Some of these organisations include:

Cans4Skills

Cans4Skills is a project that recycles shipping containers and finds practical uses for them that will aid in community development. Most are used as buildings or class rooms of some sort, which are used as venues for skills development initiatives. These containers are renovated before being put to their new use: containers are cleaned and painted and floors, windows and doors are added. Some of the skills development initiatives that take place in the containers include teaching people trades that they can use within their communities such as plumbing, painting or carpentry. This enables them to make a living and do good work. It is based on the principle that people need to learn to help themselves so that they can be independent. The long-term goal of this initiative is community upliftment.

Community Poultry Development Service

This project provides a jumpstart for families or groups involved in the farming of poultry. In order to propel them towards self-sufficiency, they are given a starter kit with everything they need to get them going. This, in conjunction with continued mentorship allows the farmers to learn this trade and support their families.

Connections

Offering a number of basic courses to community workers in the Western Cape, Connections promotes social and economic development. With supporting publications, including an Organisational Skills Toolkit for Community Workers, this project offers self-sustainability to a number of people.

Goedgedacht Trust

Working with farm workers and their families in the Riebeeksrivier Valley in the Swartland, this integrated skills development initiative seeks to help people find new and innovative ways to break a cycle of poverty that is generations old.

Hlanganani Ngothando

This is a multipurpose project with a broad scope that serves a number of purposes within the communities in which they operate. Some of the projects run by this charity include a centre for handicapped children and a youth and community development programme that provides computer literacy, English literacy, healthcare programmes, learner license preparation programme and maths tutoring for disadvantaged teenagers. They also provide food and medicine for approximately 100 families affected by HIV/AIDS and execute outreach initiatives to schools and prisons, spreading education about the disease. Finally, they run youth clubs and arts and crafts programmes for children and young adults.

Umthati Training Project

Umthathi aims to develop the skills that people need to survive in the urban regions of the Eastern Cape. With increased access to food, the project hopes to improve health within households. It also hopes to educate the people about the most efficient way to use the resources that they do have at their disposal. Their focus is on education and training.

Rural Development Support Programme

Since 1992, this organisation has been offering various training programmes for rural entrepreneurs. These include organisational development, business development and research skills. In addition to needs assessments and advice, the RDSP runs an open learning programme which facilitiates the distribution of training manuals and information packs. They also link rural youth groups with funders and organise seminars and networking events so that rural people can gain exposure.

A Drop in the Ocean

This is by no means an exhaustive list of skills development charities or agencies. Indeed, there are countless others, all of whom depend on the generosity of the privileged to ensure that they stay afloat and can continue to do good work within their communities. With so many organisations at work, it is possible that a difference can be made to previously disadvantaged South African's everywhere.

About the Author
Breadline Africa is a charity organisation that fundraises for numerous smaller groups, from grassroots movements to larger scale NGOs. Solely reliant on donations, this charity assesses the work done by other charities that it chooses to support and allocates funds where they are most needed. Donating to Breadline Africa ensures that you donate to a valuable cause.