Tackling GBV through skills training

As we wrap up 2022, it's a great opportunitiy to look back at the successes of the Social Entrepreneurship and Income Generation Projects over the last 12 months. Without a doubt, 2022, has been another year of growth for the projects, with a greater number of young men completing the theoretical and practical aspects of the Kwakha Indvodza project than ever before. 

• Through the collaboration with existing KI projects, partners and community structures, KI successfully implemented 7 five-day "Learn2Earn" courses (159 participants) and 8 skills developments trainings (79 participants) in different communities around Eswatini. 
• Through these partnerships, these needy communities received the products (tables, bookshelves, other furniture) produced by participants during the skills development trainings.
• 98% of our participants reported that they found our courses "helpful" or "very helpful" in their future careers. 
• As well as your valuable support, KI's Apprenticeship Programme received support from the British High Commission, Solon Foundation, UNDP, Swaziland Schools Project and Swaziland Charitable Trust to repair another 4,514 desks in 33 schools across the country, taking our cumilative total to over 11,000 school desks repaired since 2018!
• Apprentice carpenters and welders from Ludzeludze community received a tender worth E13, 327.00 (approx 750 USD) for desks repairs at Ludzeludze Primary School to repair a total of 44 desks.

Despite these successes, the situation in Eswatini (Swaziland) remains dire. Social unrest, very high unemployment, severe inequalities and a weak economic forecast mean that many young people face hardship everyday. Your generous donations, no matter how large or small, continue to make the difference in a young man's future and through his income, the future of his entire family.

Thank you. 

Links:

• Participants of KI's program have set up their own social media

Directly linking to the ‘Learn 2 Earn’ course, KI conducted two Skills Development Trainings in Agriculture (crop production), Handcraft, Carpentry and Welding respectively during this reporting period and engaged 79 out of school and unemployed young men aged between 18 and 29 from 5 communities of Eswatini. These trainings are designed to enhance employability, skills acquisition and business literacy in young men who would otherwise be left unemployed and feeling increasingly desperate at the situation they find themselves in.

KI engages Facilitators from our partner organizations and community-based businesses who have been training our participants in these different fields and skillsets, taking participants through the theory and practical sessions as follows:

Day 1- Theory on Agriculture, Carpentry, Welding or Handcraft. Health and Safety

Day 2 - Individual skill practicals and assessments

Day3 - Guded practice sessions and production of products

Day 4 - Guded practice sessions and production of products

Day 5 - Final production and praduation

Facilitators continue to provide training and mentorship to the participants at the same time. To ensure trainee safety, participants are provided with protective equipment during the course of the training, as well as following KI’s Health and Safety protocols. The variety of items produced in these trainings are donated to needy community spaces and causes such as churches, pre-schools and fixing community structures during practicals, as a social responsibility initiative.

KI continues to appreciate the support it receives to implement these valuable projects which address one of the fundamental challenges of our nation - youth unemployment, poor labour market opportunities and sluggish economc growth. When a young person enters the workforce or starts a business, they challenge this overwhelming trend and create sustainable opportunities for themselce and their current and future families.