Cape Town - The Women for Change Programme saw 13 unemployed women receive certificates for field work done in the last four months in ward 60 communities.

Councillor for ward 60 Mark Kleinschmidt, Social Development and Early Childhood Development Centres professional officer Christene Simetu and Supervisor Anthea Steed were on hand to certify the women at the graduation awards.

This was the second consecutive year that the programme had run and it consisted of practical courses and workshops including financial planning, anti-gender-based violence, anti-bullying and anti-substance abuse.

Following a workshop held at Portia Primary School in Lansdowne, Principal Kevin Valensky said: “I am highly appreciative and grateful for the sterling work done by the Women for Change team. The learners learnt much, and the school will welcome them back again in future.”

Kleinschmidt said: “The Women for Change programme is an invaluable project and the empowerment of local women in the community is priceless. I’m extremely grateful for their sterling service.”

He added that the main objectives for the programme was to empower unemployed women and up-skill women who play significant roles in impacting communities. They are equipped with the training and skills needed for the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

Anthea Steed, the supervisor of Women for Change (WFC) said the programme was a great initiative for communities to benefit from good deeds in the Social Development (SD) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) sphere.

“The role that SD and ECD played in the programme is that Women for Change candidates were given an opportunity where they could assist in crèches in the ward 60 area that were under-staffed.

“EPWP, SD and ECD want unemployed women to know their strengths and weaknesses and also be empowered to focus on their growth and development, while at the same time making a positive change in communities,” she said.

matthew.petersen@inl.co.za

Cape Argus