EMALAHLENI – More than 300 young women from Emalahleni will become professional nail technicians courtesy of an initiative by the Witbank Mining College and Skills Development Center in Emalahleni.
The initiative, which kicked off on August 9, 2024, will span three weeks, concluding with a graduation of 320 participants on September 28, 2024.
This initiative is supported by a coalition of sponsors, including NEDBANK, ABSA, Emalahleni Local Municipality, Emalahleni FM, and Sinqobile Training Group.
The collaboration between these organizations highlights a community-driven approach to addressing the critical issues of unemployment and economic empowerment among women in the region.
The primary objective of this program is to provide these young women with comprehensive training and certification, paving the way for them to establish their own businesses in the beauty industry. Upon successful completion of the program, each participant will be awarded a fully stocked nail kit, giving them the necessary tools to immediately begin their entrepreneurial journey.
The director of Witbank Mining College, Mashudu Munyai shared his enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing its importance in uplifting the local community. “The main idea is to employ the young women we have in our municipality,” he explained. “We have recruited 320 young women who will train as nail technicians, and the program is fully sponsored by the school. We also have assistance from the municipality. The aim is to produce young women who can stand on their own and start their own businesses. This program will run for three weeks, and after that, they will graduate on September 28th.”
He further highlighted the potential impact of the program on the participants’ lives, stressing the importance of self-sufficiency. “By the end of this program, we want these women to be able to go out and start their own businesses. This will address more issues, especially when it comes to unemployment and community development. Through this Women’s Month initiative, we are committed to training more young people, particularly women, so they can take control of their futures.”
Rocky Mothophi, founder of Sinqobile Training Group, echoed the sentiments of support and empowerment.
“This program came to me as something that needed to be pushed because, as women, we need to support each other,” she said. “It touched me that Witbank Mining College created such a program focused on women. Often, we hear about supporting women in finding jobs or entering male-dominated fields like mining, but we forget to help women start their own businesses.”
Among the participants is a 45-year-old woman, Raina Khoza, who has struggled to find work for years due to a lack of higher education opportunities caused by poverty and family responsibilities.
She expressed her excitement about the initiative, stating, “This opportunity is life-changing for me. I didn’t have the chance to acquire skills in higher education, but now I can finally learn something that will help me provide for my family. What’s even better is that I can work from home, which opens the door for possible employment or starting my own business.”
The initiative has also received strong backing from Emalahleni mayor Vusi Nhlapho.
