BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE – The European Union (EU) has undoubtedly proven to be passionate about its mission to empower the youth in Eswatini.
This was vividly shown last Friday where they (the EU) held a successful design training program initiative at Vuvulane last Friday. The training looks into empowering the youth with designing and creating clothes, artefacts and jewellery.
The program is called the JEREMPAUL Design Program and it seeks to train the youth on the skills of how to make leather accessories as well as being able to sustain themselves with this skill.
The EU partnered with JEREMPAUL Founder and Director of Jewelery Store and Khulekani Msweli of Vuvulane to make this training possible. JEREMPAUL is a creative store/platform which sells unique jewellery and artefacts.
The aim of the program was to make businesses play a role of training the youth on either being employable or self-employed.
The youth were given a number of materials used to create accessories including leather.
Mandla Shongwe, who is a leather products artisan, facilitated the artistry of making leather fashion accessories.
By the end of the learning session, the youth at Vuvulane had a number of beautiful and creative handmade accessory products made with leather.
The youth under the programme expressed their excitement and appreciation for the programme which acquired them a new set of skills which will make them earn a living.
Thobile Ginindza said that she was grateful for the opportunity for her to learn a new skill.
“I can now go anywhere in the world and still be able to put food on the table with this new skill that I have acquired. I am grateful,” said Ginindza.
Fikile Dludlu said that she had been struggling to get a job and she was not equipped with being able to create anything so this had been eye opening for her and she believed she would be able to make a living out of this.
Thulani Matse said that it was amazing to create something beautiful and useful from raw materials.
“Thank you to the EU, REREMPAUL, Khulekani Msweli and Mandla Shongwe for the beautiful experience and new skill.
“Nothing beats the feeling and experience of creating something that works and that is beautiful, very appreciated as well as being able to generate an income from it,” said Matse.
Thoba Mazibuko said this was a brilliant initiative as it was very difficult to get a job.
“The one thing I rely on is my hands so I am grateful for this initiative to acquire a new skill and I aim to impart this new knowledge for other people,” said Mazibuko.
Zinhle Magagula said she have always relied on her hands and the good thing is there was no limitation as to what you can or cannot create.
She said everything is a creation regardless of how it came out.
