Youth learn the ropes in water and wastewater treatment process

The Mvula Trust and Capricorn College for Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) joined forces to implement a learnership programme in Water and Wastewater Treatment Process Control Supervision.

The learnership programme is currently underway and learners are expected to complete both theory and practical activities by 13 April 2018. After completion, successful learners will be awarded with National Qualification Framework (NQF) Level 4 qualification, which is anticipated to unlock doors of employment opportunities for these learners in the water sector.

These are some of the learners after completing practical work in one of the residential areas

The intention of this programme is to capacitate youth in maintenance of community water infrastructure and close a gap of skills shortage in this area. The learnership attracted 25 (Twenty – five) participants from previously disadvantaged communities in the Polokwane Local Municipality

In the phase two (2) of the programme, which affords learners an opportunity to integrate theory and practice, learners built a simulated Water Treatment Plant to demonstrate understanding of knowledge they learned during the theory class.Ntombi Mbobo, The Mvula Trust’s Programme Manager, indicated that the learnership came at the appropriate time when South Africa needs lot of technical skills in the maintenance of water infrastructure, where the latter will lead to proper water treatment processes.“To achieve maximum impact, we exposed some learners to Lepelle – Nkumpi Local Municipality Water Services satellite. In addition, learners were, among others, taken to some ponds to clear waste and Wastewater Treatment Plants to broaden their knowledge”, said Mbobo.

The Mvula Trust will continue to work with Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges to implement learnerships that will bring development and capacity building to our communities.