The start of a new year is the perfect time to acquire a new skill that can lead to employment or entrepreneurship.
When Moduka was 19 years old, she became a mother and had to drop out of university to raise her child. For many years she struggled to find employment and it was only when she gained a training opportunity to be an ABET facilitator for the Department of Health through a training company in the Free State, that she managed to improve her life. The skills and knowledge that she gained opened doors for her and this is when she realised the importance of acquiring skills and training.
Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that the number of employed people decreased by 660 000 in the third quarter of 2021 to 14.3 million. “It’s now more important than ever for people to have access to skills development training opportunities so that they can become employable or even become entrepreneurs,” Moduka said.
She added that many residents in the Eastern Cape often don’t have access to skills development training institutions in their community and have to travel long distances to study further. “Financial constraints for many residents hinder them from accessing skills training. This is one of the many reasons why I opened my institution as I wanted to make education accessible to all, especially young women. My personal struggles also motivated me to be the change I would like to see in society,” she added.
According to her, teenage pregnancy often results in young girls having to drop out of school with no training or skills to help them find jobs or make money. Her passion for skills development is thus the driving force behind the success of her institution. Moduka ensures that courses at Atlega are affordable and accessible.
Learners can enrol for skills development courses in different sectors such as, automotive, agriculture, textile making and many more. Knowledge, practical skills, and training from these courses empower young people to become financially independent.
The steadily growing training facility received its first accreditation in 2018 and over the years has provided comprehensive training to hundreds of people. Courses offered by Atlega are strategically aligned to address poverty and job creation. When most learners have completed their courses in township agriculture, hat making, gas welding and production technology, they use their newly acquired skills to give back to the community. They also improve the local economy and create jobs for locals,” she mentioned.
Moduka owns and runs a training facility that is giving young people a second chance. After her initial training, she wanted to become an expert in skills development training and studied further. Today she has a diploma in production management, as well as a diploma in operations management, and is two modules away from her advanced diploma in operations management. After completing her current studies, she plans to register for an MBA.
Gaining new skills can be a life-changing opportunity and having an affordable and accessible training institution is very helpful. “Entrepreneurs such as myself, who contribute towards empowering people with skills, are community leaders that are bringing a positive change to society.
Access to education is a basic human right and Atlega for Women Projects Enterprise is there to ensure that Nelson Mandela Bay residents and beyond have access to education.
This article first appeared in News24
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