Support and skills training for women
2005-09-29
THE Athlone House of Strength (Ahos) Support and Skills Training Group recently held their first exhibition and certificate ceremony.
The training group is an introductory programme as part of the planned establishment of a One Stop Victim Empowerment Centre for victims of domestic violence in Paarl.
An eight week programme was presented for 20 unemployed women who have experienced abuse.
The programme had a dual nature: therapeutic group support as well as skills training, where they were exposed to various crafts.
The goal with the group is therapeutic interaction to enable and encourage the participants to grow positively and become more empowered to cope with their circumstances, make positive progress and gain more control over their lives.
They also learnt basic skills in silk ribbon embroidery, sewing, decoupage, fabric painting and jewellery making. An urgent need for computer training was established, as well as educare training and sewing.
This group has become instrumental in initiating a self-help entrepreneurship programme under the auspices of Ahos. They will be using the skills acquired to produce products and possibly start up and run a small business.
Ahos aims to comprehensively address the needs of their target group, and thus the next step is to assist the women who participate in these courses to enrol in other training programmes in their chosen fields of interest.
To this end Ahos is working closely with the Department of Labour, Boland College and Bergsigt who also attended the exhibition.
The next Support and Skills Training Group (for abused, unemployed women) will be starting in a few weeks' time, referrals for the programme can call Fiona Brophy, Ahos Centre Manager, at 872-7518 or 083-512-4500.
* Boland College announced a new course, the National Certificate: Craft Production, NQF level 2.
This qualification is primarily intended for application in the craft production environment.
It will give learners the opportunity to obtain competencies required in craft production, or to have their competence recognised.
Enquiries with Brenda van Schalkwyk at the Paarl Campus, 872-3323.
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