The National Home Builder Registration Council (NHBRC) will be providing home building training to 91 unemployed young people in Nelson Mandela Bay in a bid to improve their employability and participation in the construction industry.

The skills training programme which starts on 01 February 2016 focuses on various disciplines such as bricklaying, plastering, roofing and carpentry. It also consists of practical site assistance and classroom based teaching.

The training sessions will be conducted by registered facilitators and modules are accredited at NQF level 2 to 4 with the Construction Education and Training Authority.

These young people are part of the National Department of Human Settlement’s Youth Brigades Programme aimed at capacitating young people with technical and entrepreneurial skills so that they can play an active role in the delivery of human settlements.

As part the Youth Brigades Programme, these young people completed a four-month character building course. This programme was officially launched by the Minister of Human Settlements Ms. Lindiwe Sisulu at an event held in Port Elizabeth on October 30, 2015.

“The NHBRC is more than just a regulator and enforcer of building standard, we are also offering a number training programmes catering for the youth, military veterans, women and people with disabilities who are interested to participate in the home building industry, “said NHBRC CEO, Mongezi Mnyani.

One of the beneficiaries, Anele Mgqobozi (23) from Motherwell said this training will revive his dream of becoming an Architect.

“I was a student at Port Elizabeth College studying a diploma in civil and construction but due to financial constraints I was unable to finish my studies. I have a passion for construction especially drawing of building plans and this training will assist me in realising my dream of being an architect.”

Mthetho Vongxeni, an aspiring bricklayer from Wells Estate says this will make his dream of becoming a Home Inspector a reality.

“I am happy to be part of this training programme because it is very difficult to find a decent job in construction without a skill. After finishing this training, I want to further my studies so that I can become a home inspector one day”.

After completing the training, the youth will be placed will be placed in various active human settlements projects to gain practical experience and those who wish to further their studies will be considered by the NHBRC for its three year Artisan Development Programme

The Artisan Development Programme, places young people that have graduated from the Skills Programme with Further Education Institutions to develop them into Artisans. Young people are exposed to both theoretical skills as well as work based learning for experiential purposes.
The programme is aligned to the Department of Higher Education and Training through various Colleges.
Since the beginning of 2015, the NHBRC has trained over 800 youth towards realising their dreams of being active citizens in the economy of our country.

For more information, please contact Molebogeng Taunyane on 011 317 0070/082 646 8663 or email molebot@nhbrc.azurewebsites.net