Solomon wants to empower the unemployed

A self-taught welder from Musina, Kgokedi Solomon Semono, is calling on unemployed young people to join him, so that he can teach them welding skills free of charge.

Semono said he had realised that many young people today were unemployable because they did not have specialised skills. “I can use myself as a practical example. I was unemployed for years, until I decided to teach myself welding skills. With these skills I am now able to put food on the table and maintain my family. I feel that now it is the right time to transfer these skills on to young people, so that they can also stand on their own in these tough economic times.”

He is willing to teach whoever wants to learn this trade for five months. “For those five months, they will accompany me to work when I go out to do piece jobs, so that they can gain practical experience. I will also be giving them incentives to encourage them during this time. When the five months are over, I will release them to start their own welding businesses, and when they get jobs, I will also lend them my welding equipment free of charge, until they can afford to buy their own tools.”

Semono said he understood the importance of education, but he also stressed the importance of obtaining vocational skills. “We cannot all become teachers, nurses, and doctors. Some of us will not be able to study further to get those white-collar jobs. Although government is doing its best to fight unemployment, ordinary citizens like us must also play a role in this regard,” he said.

Date:12 November 2023

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