{"id":199377,"date":"2019-03-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-22T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/199377\/skills-development-captures-internal-attention\/"},"modified":"2019-03-22T15:05:56","modified_gmt":"2019-03-22T13:05:56","slug":"skills-development-captures-internal-attention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/03\/22\/skills-development-captures-internal-attention\/","title":{"rendered":"Skills development captures international attention"},"content":{"rendered":"

Germiston-based Saint-Gobain South Africa recently opened its doors to French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian.<\/p>\n

Le Drian visited the company to see how it has managed to position itself as a leader in the sustainable construction sector while developing skills through its Saint-Gobain YouthBuild Academy.<\/p>

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Jean-Claude Lasserre (Saint-Gobain CEO for sub-Saharan Africa) gives Jean-Yves Le Drian (French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs) a tour of the company\u2019s Germiston-based facility.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The academy, which was established in 2003, was born out of the need to tackle the national ever-growing unemployment rate.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur aim over the past 16 years has been to bridge the artisan skills gaps and create a pathway into the labour market for disadvantaged youngsters,\u201d said Jean-Claude Lasserre, Saint-Gobain CEO for sub-Saharan Africa.<\/p>

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\u201cSince its inception the academy has seen more than a 1 000 learners graduate from the programme, with 80 per cent of the 2018 graduates finding employment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn addition 30 deaf learners have been empowered through this programme.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Learners are taught the theory, practice and installation of environmentally compliant systems for new and renovated buildings.<\/p>\n

\u201cPractical activities aim to uplift the communities from which these young men and women come, and learners practice their skills by repairing and fixing cr\u00e8ches, schools and community halls in need,\u201d said Lasserre.<\/p>\n

Once learners have been selected by the academy, they are required to achieve competency in 132 credits.<\/p>\n

These credits are clustered into four subjects, which include drywall and ceiling installation (safety, tools and assembly of components), written and oral communication skills, applied mathematics (calculating quantities and costings), and workplace skills like understanding HIV\/Aids, first-aid basics and business plans.<\/p>\n

The programme runs for 12 months.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThrough the Saint-Gobain YouthBuild Academy we aim to make a real difference and to empower the disadvantaged youth of South Africans,\u201d said Lasserre.<\/p>\n

Le Drian was impressed following his visit.<\/p>\n

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