Earlier this year we announced the launch of an exciting new partnership between SOS Africa and Village Collaboration aiming to change the devastating effects of the lack of youth and adult education in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Community in the Western Cape.
The new care worker training programme offers courses to equip and empower the community because they believe that it is the right of every person to work, earn and provide a prosperous life for themselves and their children.
This week, a grand occasion saw the first 10 graduates proudly receiving their HBC and CPR certificates. They then recited the nurses’ pledge in front of their friends, families, and peers. They walked out of the Sir Lowry’s Pass Community Hall as qualified home-based carers ready to step into the job market.
“Hope restored! At the end of a three-month period of intense study and long hours of practical work, these students are poised to enter the job market. Their efforts have brought an incredible amount of joy to them and their families.” Lorraine Emery (Founder, Village Collaboration)
The ten students are: Lee-Shannon Hartnick, Jade Carelse, Haylean van Wyk, Giovanca Samuels, Gaynor Cupido, Anneke Buffel, Zana-Lee Bell, Tirsia Williams, Lanees Louw and Monique Herman.
With immediate effect, the ladies and gent will be listed with the Procare Nursing Agency and placed in positions as openings become available. The first to be snapped up was Jade Carelse who will start working at De Oude Werf Retirement Village in Welgemoed on Monday 5 September! There are many retirement homes and care facilities in the Helderberg and good, well-trained staff, with the appropriate accreditation, are in great demand.
“We wish this group of outstanding carers a bright and beautiful future. They have shown us that they have what it takes to be the leaders to be the change to bring unemployment in the Sir Lowry’s Pass Village to an end.” Lorraine Emery (Founder, Village Collaboration)
