Plastics Industry and partners offer an opportunity of a lifetime to 40 deaf students

June 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Plastics SA, formerly known as The Plastics Federation of South Africa (PFSA) will be embarking on a 1 year pilot project with Whisper Boat Building Academy (WBBA) to train 30 deaf students of the Cape Town Boatbuilding and Technology Initiative in the art of working with composites during the next year.  

According to Vanessa Davidson, Skills Development Facilitator for the Cape Town Boatbuilding and Technology Initiative (CTBi), 40 percent of young South Africans between the ages of 16 and 25 are unemployed and do not go to school. “Disabled youngsters have an even bigger problem and face even greater obstacles as there are not many opportunities or job facilities that cater for their specific needs”, she says.

Recognizing the need of deaf and hearing impaired youngsters from disadvantaged communities, the Khayelitsha-based Whisper Boat Building Academy was founded in 2004 as a non-profit organization that teaches deaf students from the townships the art of boat building. “There is a tremendous shortage of skilled labour in the Western Cape Boat Building Industry and the deaf students of the Whisper Boat Building Academy are a welcome relief in this shortage”, says WBBA founder Peter Jacops.

The Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Education and Training Authority (merSETA) has given this initiative its vote of confidence by signing a Memorandum of Understanding last week, thereby committing itself to fund the full tuition of the 30 students who will be recruited and selected by the PFSA.

Training will take place with the help of a full-time sign language interpreter and will consist of class-room based training combined with workplace experience, presented as individual Skills Programmes. Successful learners will be graduated after six months and be issued with PFSA certificate in Polymer Composite Fabrication on NQF Level 2.

“These students will be able to provide for themselves and their families an honest income and will be equipped with qualifications, skills and a trade that are in high demand and crucial to the economy,” says PFSA Training Director, Anton Hanekom.  He explained that the successful students will be able to work in a variety of fields in the plastics industry, ranging from working as laminators for boat builders, to swimming pool constructors, canopy constructors and other composite fields.  The Cape Town Boatbuilding and Technology Initiative will also assist students with job placements once they have graduated.

The opportunity is open to any student (male or female) who is 18 years or older, deaf or hearing impaired, but able to speak sign language.  Successful candidates must have a valid South African Identity document, be willing to learn, enjoy with their hands and be willing to commit themselves fulltime for studying over the next six months.

To request an application form or for more information, SMS 072 8363998 or call (021) 591-5512.  Deadline for applications is 20 June 2011.

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Plastics SA (formerly PFSA) supports the SA plastics Industry, gathering and disseminating information, providing training to the Plastics Industry and promoting plastics as a material of choice whilst facilitating environmental initiatives.