WEB: Kwa-Thema Skills School celebrates as 13 learners join Ekurhuleni Jewellery ProjectPRINT: Kwa-Thema learners join jewellery projectTEASER: Kwa-Thema Skills School marked a milestone on Wednesday when 13 former learners were onboarded into the Ekurhuleni Jewellery Project, with women making up the majority of the new intake for the first time.
The Kwa-Thema Skills School celebrated the onboarding of 13 former learners to the Ekurhuleni Jewellery Project (EJP) NPO, with eight of them female, a first for the initiative, on Wednesday.Established in 2023, the partnership allows learners to be mentored in jewellery design and manufacturing by the EJP at the Rand Refinery.The NPO, launched in 2009, serves as a training and business incubation centre. It is funded by Rand Refinery and the Small Enterprise Development Agency Technology Programme through the Department of Trade and Industry, with support from the Jewellery Council of South Africa.The EJP technical skills specialist, Bheki Zaca, said, “I am one of the fortunate ones in the industry. I studied at the Durban University of Technology. I owed it to myself to make that effort, because nobody owed me anything.“It is a privilege to be where I am today, as I can give back. I am hard on them sometimes, but they have produced great work.”Zaca was referring to the achievements of Abednigo Ntimbane, Smangaliso Malaza, Khotso Mokhele, Nkosinathi Lusenga and Kabelo Matlawa, who were previously selected for the programme and have created pieces ready for sale.Although learners are trained wood- and metalwork, the EJP does not offer certification in those fields. Initiatives like the Enterprise Development Programme (supports small to medium businesses with funding, training, mentorship and market access) are, therefore, vital, as they provide recognition for learners’ talents.“The EJP has been impressed with the calibre of learners the school has sent to us. We’ve noticed that many of them are challenged. They score well in our assessments and show resilience,” Zaca added.Beneficiary Mokhele said, “We young designers have learnt how to start and run our own jewellery businesses. Many look down on this school, but for me, I don’t think I would have found this talent if not for this school.“Our teachers encouraged us to focus. It is a warm environment, until Zaca asks for the assignments. Then it gets rough, but I am grateful for the opportunity.”Ntimbane echoed Mokhele’s sentiments, “Zaca is a great mentor. If you follow the instructions, you will be successful,” he said.He encouraged the new cohorts to also ask for help when they need it.]
Parent Rose Nyembe said she was once embarrassed to tell people her son attended the school.“People have a negative perception of the school, but I am grateful for the teachers’ support and am proud of these results. The teachers see more good in our children than we do, sometimes.“We also appreciate the Gauteng Department of Education deciding that such a school should be established,” she said.Nyembe said she has seen her son grow into a confident young man.
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