Skills training opens new doors in Richmond Park

Sarah Johnson is 49 and just completed her training in electrical work. She’s lived in Atlantis for 39 years, since her family was moved from Richmond Park in 1976.

Did you know anything about electrical work before, or was this something new for you?
I’ve always been interested in electrical work, since I was a little girl. I used to help out my dad around the house with odd jobs, and he always fixed plugs and broken lights and then it was so exciting when they worked again! I loved that, but I never had the opportunity to finish school and get any form of training. Money was tight and I had to leave school in Grade 10 and get a job to help out. I never got to become an electrician like I’d hoped. But it’s never too late, right?

What did you do before the training programme?
I was a housewife, and raised my two children.

What did you enjoy most about the training programme?
I loved learning to understand how things work. It opened my eyes to look around my house and see what isn’t working properly… you always think your husband has to fix everything that’s broken, but suddenly I can now do it myself! I made my own extension cord, and fixed a plug that wasn’t connecting properly, and I worked out what caused a plug in my mother’s house to trip the whole time… It was such a thrill to get it right, and working!

What is next for you – have you found a job yet?
Our whole group of 23 electrical trainees might be placed with an electrical company in Parow; for now we are getting our paperwork together. And if not there, there will be other opportunities.

Do you think the training programme will open up new opportunities for you? Where do you hope it will take you?
It definitely will. I have about 10 more years of working in me – I turn 50 this year – and I am excited and confident that things will happen for me. My dream would be to get a job with Eskom!

Chanté Walters is a 20-year-old mom of two from Atlantis, who completed the plumbing module in Richmond Park Treasury Trust’s skills-development programme. She was one of three students chosen for a further three-year course to qualify her as a Health and Safety officer.

Why plumbing – is this a trade you had any experience in before?
No, I was completely new to it! But it is a very good trade that opens up different job options, so that’s why I chose it.

What did you do before the training programme?
I wrote matric in 2013 and then I did a few courses, including one in financial accounting. Then I worked for a bit, and when I heard about this training programme I grabbed the chance. I am enjoying the Health and Safety course a lot.

What did you enjoy most about the training programme?
Until you start training you don’t know what goes on on a building site, and it is so interesting to learn how many incidents happen on a site. Now I am learning how to investigate such incidents to make sure that risk is minimized and incidents don’t happen again. And as for the plumbing course… I can now install a bath in my own house; that is so cool! In fact at home our bathtub had only one tap that worked, so I could connect the extra tap, and also fix the leaking toilet. Very satisfying!

What is next for you?
I’ll be busy with the health and safety course for three years, but afterwards I also want to do a nursing course. I want more qualifications and more options. And I really want to get involved with inspiring other young people to study and get qualifications. I never wanted to study, but since I started I have seen the benefits of learning. I want to share that.

The newly qualified artisans received their certificates at a graduation ceremony on 25 June in Atlantis.

Listen to the Radio Tygerberg live Broadcast from Richmond Park Treasury Trust graduation ceremony on 25 June 2016

Radio Tygerberg live Broadcast from Richmond Park Treasury Trust graduation ceremony
Kuiertyd Clip 3 25 Jun 2016