Free State women bring dynamic change to their communities

South Africa had urgently to fast track artisan skills, part of the process of which was to strengthen skills development in the post-school system.

Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education and Training, implied a recent National Skills conference in Johannesburg that much could be learned from the foresight of the women of the Moqhaka district municipality in the Free State, who, in 2006, had established the Basadi Talk Organisation, which is now instrumental in bringing about change in their communities.

Basadi , led by Ms Sinah Radebe, caters for the business, social and economic needs of women. The members of the organisation regard themselves as role models, care givers, advisors and social network activists in addressing women’s needs in all spheres of life within their community.

The conspicuous successes enjoyed by the Basadi initiative was a prime factor in the Department of Higher Education & Training’s recent appointed of Media Works, the Johannesburg-based company that specialises in Adult Education and Training, to train Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in the Free State. The project will be funded by the National Skills Fund.

During September and October 2011, the organisation received training from Media Works and Vukani Solutions in order to bridge the skills gap among the community based organisation’s members; training that focused on business readiness and tourism.

“The training enabled us to understand our role in the communities we serve. We are now better equipped to be involved and make a sustainable difference,” says Radebe.

The training, conducted over five days, covered the following modules:

• Employee/employer relationships;
• Inappropriate behavior in the workplace;
• Values and ethics in the workplace;
• Nature and profitability of business; and
• Opportunities in tourism.