Youth development center launched in Jameson Park
Beginning Youth Month on a progressive note, the Meshack Tabudi Foundation officially launched a Youth Development Center in Jameson Park near Heidelberg recently.
The organization, which was previously known as Shabach School Ministry, is a non-profit that was established in 2011 to create a safe space in black communities through youth development such as skills training, mentoring and coaching.
The name is derived from its founder, the late clergyman and motivational speaker Pastor Meshack Tabudi. Currently, the faith-based organization is led by Pastor Tabudi’s daughter Seipati Tabudi.
“While growing up, our parents were philanthropists in the community and that poured out on us their children. The founders’ vision for the Foundation was to leave a footprint in all nine provinces of South Africa; and we can proudly say that we are on our way there,” she said.
The Youth Development Center also has a Matric help-desk that opens in September for matriculants.
They help matriculants apply for higher education and funding opportunities.
“We don’t need money to build institutions for ourselves as Africans,” said Sisa Bam from the Office of the Executive Mayor of Lesedi Local Municipality.
On behalf of local government, Bam welcomed the new development centre.
Officials from the Department of Labour also attended the official launch and gave tips to the youth about how they can improve their chances of getting employed in South Africa in this day and age.
The Center will start by offering upholstery skills to the youth aged between the ages of 18 and 35, starting on Monday (June 6).
Should anyone want to develop their skills they can drop off their curriculum vitae, certified ID copy, and certified matric results at the center, situated at 510 Shiela Ave, Jameson Park, Heidelberg.
The launch of the Mechack Tabudi Foundation Youth Development Center was also graced by the presence of popular author, social commentator and speaker Penuel Mlotshwa, a.k.a Penuel The Black Pen.
In his keynote address, Penuel spoke of how countries like China and the United States have low rates of unemployment is because South Africans (and Africans generally) support and depend on exports like designer clothing and fast food franchises.
Penuel The Black Pen said that its time people look inward and around themselves for solutions.
“On your phone there’s something called Google, there’s Wikipedia and there’s YouTube. Those three resources can completely transform your mind,” he said.
Encouraging a solution, Mlotshwa said that smartphones must be used as a tool for communicating, education and motivation from the right channels – especially when using social media, as it is where most people’s screen time goes.
Leading the event was Sizwe Maseko, who also is the organization’s Office Advisor in the Lesedi-based branch.
The Mechack Tabudi Foundation also has another development center based in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.
Its main focus is to prioritize women and young people plagued by unemployment, acting as bridge to job opportunities through skills and funding mechanisms. They also assist young entrepreneurs as they have a great potential for creating employment.
