Our Vision
Our vision is to turn development opportunities into skills development by fostering immersive workplace experiences that results in creating a self-sustaining micro-economy. By equipping students with practical knowledge across diverse industries, we cultivate an environment that promotes positive growth for both youth, as well as contributing to the urban environment in which our operations are located - an underserviced area on the border of Bertrams and Bez Valley in Johannesburg.
Our development approach is guided by sustainable practices, which involve repurposing existing buildings, reusing and recycling construction materials, and implementing energy-saving solutions to minimize the construction industry's impact on the environment
Our Approach
At Umphakathi, our training model empowers school leavers through a team of expert mentors from various industries. Students undergo workplace experience while being guided by mentors in rotating groups for four months. This exposure helps them decide on a career specialization for the next eight months.
Upon completing the program, students can seek employment, become Umphakathi mentors, or start their own small enterprises. Our model promotes circularity and sustainable development, fostering a sense of continuity within the community while equipping students with the skills they need to succeed in their chosen paths.
Training Model
Our endeavor showcases our ability to transform development opportunities into tangible Skills Development programs. By meticulously documenting our progress, we will generate a comprehensive blueprint for nationwide implementation. This, in turn, will unlock vast opportunities, equip young individuals with essential skills, and empower them to pursue their chosen careers within our thriving economy.
Participating entities in this project will not only contribute to its success but also enjoy the benefits of amplified brand exposure as they integrate into our supply chain. Furthermore, our well-defined blueprints and standard operating procedures will facilitate the replication of our program across various provinces, major cities, and even rural areas, thereby fostering widespread collaboration.
The Bigger Picture
Proposed Building Redevelopment
The process of redeveloping the buildings at Skills Village will create skills and employment opportunity across a variety of industries, whilst encouraging a self sustaining micro economy to establish itself after completion of building.
In 2023 we successfully piloted our workplace experience programme using a portion of these properties. As the full redevelopment launches, we anticipate the number of opportunities for both skills and enterprise development to grow rapidly.
Consider contributing towards this vision:
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