People’s Post: Huge turnout for youth opportunity seminar

Organisers of a youth event meant to cater for less than 300 people at the Dulcie September Hall in Athlone, on Wednesday, faced complete panic when more than 6000 youth from across the city showed up for employment, education and training opportunities.

Faiez Dollie, from the Youth Unemployment Prevention Project (YUPP) said the issue was sorted an hour later, after role players of the event managed to get a bigger venue to accommodate the young individuals for their 10th Annual Post School Opportunities Seminar.

“We were extremely surprised at the amount of young people who showed up for the seminar. Previous years we have accommodated less youth and it has never received this much attendance before,” says Dollie.

“Because of the large number of youth who attended the seminar and a concern for their safety, a quick thinking, Cameron Dugmore, one of the guest speakers at the event, organised the Athlone Stadium, which is in walking distance from the Dulcie September Hall.”

“YUPP’s goal of hosting the seminars was to bring these opportunities to young people within our communities, making it easier for them to apply for a multitude of jobs through placement providers and to apply for further studies and funding,”

Dollie says opportunity providers who attended included UWC, CPUT, False Bay College, College of Cape Town, UNISA, NSFAS, Harambee, the Department of Labour, the Western Cape Department of Social Development, Lulaway, Pearson Education, SAYA, YoungPeople@Work, Services SETA, MICT SETA, NYDA, Old Mutual and the SAPS. “The seminar provided an important platform for young people to access all these opportunities under one roof,” says Dollie. Manuel reminded the youth of opportunities awaiting them.

“Details of all the youth who attended were collated to ensure they are connected to appropriate post school opportunities and to ensure they will be invited to further YUPP workshops and seminars.”

He said a number of businesses have already approached YUPP to offer assistance with finding opportunities for the youth.

All the forms completed by the youth on the day are also being processed and they (youth) will be contacted shortly by the YUPP team.

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