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Mobile training for rural youths

By Itumeleng Mogaki, ITWeb junior journalist
Johannesburg, 14 Oct 2005
Umsobomvu, a government skills development fund, is extending its outreach programme to rural youth by providing computer training and information about self-employment opportunities via its mobile youth advisory centres.

The vehicles travel nationally, mainly to the rural areas, with drivers and outreach officers on-board who have received extensive training on conducting workshops, Umsobomvu says. Their responsibilities include offering information, support and training and referral services.

There are two buses with 10 wireless laptops on board. By the beginning of next month, three more buses are expected to be fully operational and staffed, the organisation says.

Information relating to careers, skills development and entrepreneurship is now being taken to youths in outlying areas, says Derek Smith, Umsobomvu`s director for content information and consulting.

"We provide information service delivery to those hard to reach areas, conduct workshops whereby rural youths learn how to use PCs, draft CVs and business plans, as well as give them advice on how to start up their own businesses," says Smith.

Next month the mobile centres are to visit young people who are writing their matriculation exams this year. They will be introduced to various career paths and job and learnership opportunities at fairs and workshops to be held in all nine provinces.

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