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Boat building skilling up CT's deaf youngsters - Business LIVE
Youths in South Africa do not have it easy, and are subjected to mass unemployment and lack of skills. Their counterparts with a disability find themselves in an even more difficult position.
"It is very difficult for young people like me to find work and to get a skill," says 23-year old Camerin Cook from Mitchell's Plain, through an interpreter. "I was born deaf. It has been difficult all my life."
"I used to sit at home, doing nothing, until my mother told me about this boat building school for the deaf," he explained. "She had seen an advert in the newspaper and so I approached the school. In July I started with my training and am very happy because now I am learning a real skill, which improves my chances of finding a job."
Camerin is now one of the 15 students at the Whisper Boat Building Academy (WBBA) who are being taught to become certified boat builders. Their training started in July, and will run for six months. After that, 15 new students will fill their place.
"There is a tremendous shortage of skilled labour in the Western Cape boat building industry, and the WBBA students are a welcome relief in this shortage," said Peter Jacops, who founded the Academy back in 2004.
Over the past seven years, he has seen scores of students graduate and find fulltime jobs. "Up until now, practically every student has found employment," he noted.
Unfortunately, the global economic crisis of 2009 and the recession have not been kind to the WBBA. It led to a decreased demand for boats made at the academy.
"There were some very rough times," Jacops recalled. "But every time something good happened that enabled us to carry on."
Today, the future looks bright and shiny due to a partnership with the Plastic Federation of SA (Plastics SA).
"We have embarked on a 1-year pilot project with the WBBA to train their students in the art of working with composites," said Plastics SA Executive Director Anton Hanekom.
"Our training will turn them into certified laminators. This diversifies their skills," he added. "Apart from working in the boat building industry they, once graduated, will be able to work in the plastics industry, swimming pool construction, canopy making, and other related fields. We will also assist graduates with job placements."
The Western Cape Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Alan Wilde said that initiatives like the WBBA were crucial.
"The boat building industry is very important for this region of SA," he pointed out. "It is an industry that is positioning us with a lot of respect globally when it comes to boat building. This programme is giving people with a hearing disability the opportunity to skill themselves and to play a leading role in our economy going forward."
While he only started last month, Camerin is thoroughly enjoying his time at the WBBA. "I am happy that I am not sitting at home anymore and am now doing something useful. I am also making plans for the future," he says with a broad smile. "My dream is to open my own boat building facility."
Youths in South Africa do not have it easy, and are subjected to mass unemployment and lack of skills. Their counterparts with a disability find themselves in an even more difficult position.
"It is very difficult for young people like me to find work and to get a skill," says 23-year old Camerin Cook from Mitchell's Plain, through an interpreter. "I was born deaf. It has been difficult all my life."
"I used to sit at home, doing nothing, until my mother told me about this boat building school for the deaf," he explained. "She had seen an advert in the newspaper and so I approached the school. In July I started with my training and am very happy because now I am learning a real skill, which improves my chances of finding a job."
Camerin is now one of the 15 students at the Whisper Boat Building Academy (WBBA) who are being taught to become certified boat builders. Their training started in July, and will run for six months. After that, 15 new students will fill their place.
"There is a tremendous shortage of skilled labour in the Western Cape boat building industry, and the WBBA students are a welcome relief in this shortage," said Peter Jacops, who founded the Academy back in 2004.
Over the past seven years, he has seen scores of students graduate and find fulltime jobs. "Up until now, practically every student has found employment," he noted.
Unfortunately, the global economic crisis of 2009 and the recession have not been kind to the WBBA. It led to a decreased demand for boats made at the academy.
"There were some very rough times," Jacops recalled. "But every time something good happened that enabled us to carry on."
Today, the future looks bright and shiny due to a partnership with the Plastic Federation of SA (Plastics SA).
"We have embarked on a 1-year pilot project with the WBBA to train their students in the art of working with composites," said Plastics SA Executive Director Anton Hanekom.
"Our training will turn them into certified laminators. This diversifies their skills," he added. "Apart from working in the boat building industry they, once graduated, will be able to work in the plastics industry, swimming pool construction, canopy making, and other related fields. We will also assist graduates with job placements."
The Western Cape Minister of Economic Development and Tourism Alan Wilde said that initiatives like the WBBA were crucial.
"The boat building industry is very important for this region of SA," he pointed out. "It is an industry that is positioning us with a lot of respect globally when it comes to boat building. This programme is giving people with a hearing disability the opportunity to skill themselves and to play a leading role in our economy going forward."
While he only started last month, Camerin is thoroughly enjoying his time at the WBBA. "I am happy that I am not sitting at home anymore and am now doing something useful. I am also making plans for the future," he says with a broad smile. "My dream is to open my own boat building facility."