Unemployed people at Kalkfeld receive certificates in basic vocational courses

KALKFELD, 21 SEP  – Eighty unemployed people at Kalkfeld in the Otjozondjupa Region received certificates after completing month-long training courses in needlework, office administration, basic computer, tourism and hospitality.
Deputy Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development, Lucia Ipumbu on Thursday handed over the certificates to the students who were theoretically and practically trained by the Women’s Action for Development (WAD).
Ipumbu thanked WAD for the training offered to them, saying it has empowered these unemployed men and women of Kalkfeld settlement with different handiwork skills.
Kalkfeld was in 1991 proclaimed a village council, but later in 1996 downgraded to settlement level due to a lack of economic activities and growth.
“I want to see most of you creating jobs for yourselves, and also employ others so that you can activate the economic growth of your place,” said Ipumbu.
The deputy minister told the students that their settlement is privileged as it is strategically located alongside the busy tarred road between Otjiwarongo and Omaruru.
Ipumbu urged them to organise themselves into small groups of cooperatives to make it easier to access some starting capital from her ministry, the National Youth Council or Office of the Otjozondjupa Governor, Otto Ipinge.
She then told the 13 needlework student graduates to prepare themselves for 2019 when Government will start to purchase bulk locally-manufactured institutional and schools uniforms, compared to the current situation where Government still orders such uniforms from outside the country.
Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor Julius Neumbo then tasked the needlework students to manufacture at least 10 safari suits he will pay for.
Ipinge on his part challenged the students to talk to him about the amount of starting capital they may need on condition they provide him with viable project proposals, and also demonstrate some commitment towards these projects.
“You don’t need to look for employment in Government, I urge you to employ yourselves. Call on us for assistance or advice on what to do to start up your own companies,” said Ipinge.
WAD Executive Director, Salatiel Shinedima said the month-long training courses for the 80 students were fully funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

NAMPA