Brick by brick
Trainees from Ohorongo Cement and Build It Namibia Brickmaking Academy have expressed joy at being accorded an opportunity by the two companies to learn how to make bricks.
More than 70 people have benefitted from the academy since its inception in March this year.
Ida !Owoses, one of the participants receiving training, says through the brickmaking initiative, she was able to work on projects to sustain herself, adding that the initiative to train people to make their own bricks would foster financial independence.
“This is a small step, especially for women. I can make my own bricks and make a living from that. I encourage more young people to take up training like this because it improves living standards,” said !Owoses.
Vistta Angula, another trainee, said the academy helped to fight poverty and reduce unemployment because they were being empowered to become self-employed.
“This is a great idea and I know it will help fight unemployment because some us can actually be self-employed and start our own brickmaking businesses and employ others in the process,” said Angula.
Another trainee, Hainez Kangombe, said it was up to the beneficiaries what to do after the training. He urged them to share their knowledge with others.
“We should not just receive our certificates for training and then fold our hands. We need to go out there and create employment opportunities for others and also teach them what we were taught,” urged Kangombe.
A technical advisor for Ohorongo Cement, Jurgens Nel, said the academy had affected many lives and it was a great empowerment tool.
“There is immense impact, especially in the northern areas of Namibia. People used to complain about their bricks being soft or brittle but now they know how bricks should look and how they can make proper ones. They now have knowledge and they will use it whenever they want to build their own foundations or build their own rooms,” Nel said.
The trainees all received training manuals with information on mixing ratios and how they can improve their brickmaking skills through a variety of methods.
The training session, the fifth one held, took place in Windhoek.
Trainees from regions such as Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Khomas previously benefited from the training.
SHONA NGAVA
More than 70 people have benefitted from the academy since its inception in March this year.
Ida !Owoses, one of the participants receiving training, says through the brickmaking initiative, she was able to work on projects to sustain herself, adding that the initiative to train people to make their own bricks would foster financial independence.
“This is a small step, especially for women. I can make my own bricks and make a living from that. I encourage more young people to take up training like this because it improves living standards,” said !Owoses.
Vistta Angula, another trainee, said the academy helped to fight poverty and reduce unemployment because they were being empowered to become self-employed.
“This is a great idea and I know it will help fight unemployment because some us can actually be self-employed and start our own brickmaking businesses and employ others in the process,” said Angula.
Another trainee, Hainez Kangombe, said it was up to the beneficiaries what to do after the training. He urged them to share their knowledge with others.
“We should not just receive our certificates for training and then fold our hands. We need to go out there and create employment opportunities for others and also teach them what we were taught,” urged Kangombe.
A technical advisor for Ohorongo Cement, Jurgens Nel, said the academy had affected many lives and it was a great empowerment tool.
“There is immense impact, especially in the northern areas of Namibia. People used to complain about their bricks being soft or brittle but now they know how bricks should look and how they can make proper ones. They now have knowledge and they will use it whenever they want to build their own foundations or build their own rooms,” Nel said.
The trainees all received training manuals with information on mixing ratios and how they can improve their brickmaking skills through a variety of methods.
The training session, the fifth one held, took place in Windhoek.
Trainees from regions such as Oshana, Ohangwena, Omusati and Khomas previously benefited from the training.
SHONA NGAVA
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