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19 October 2016

The Atlantis skills development programme aims to empower residents and young people of Atlantis with valuable skills, so they are able to tap into the job potential in the proposed Atlantis SEZ.  

The programme was developed in consultation with various stakeholders in Atlantis, including current investors in the SEZ. An audit of local skills has helped GreenCape map current and projected skills demand, which has closely guided our work in Atlantis. 

Achievements to date

  • Building a solid skills base through developing youth

A partnership with IkamvaYouth has resulted in the opening of an Atlantis branch offering tutoring support to Grade 10 to 12 learners from 3 Atlantis High Schools. Since opening this branch in the 3rd term of 2016, the learners have shown significant improvements in their work.

  • Solar PV installation training

The Master Artisan Academy South Africa (MAASA) facilitated PV Installation Training in Atlantis during February 2016 for 72 people.

  • SEZ Internship Programme provides development opportunities for women from Atlantis

Three female interns from Atlantis were recruited in 2014 to assist in executing different work packages for the SEZ. To date, they have received training and other opportunities for development, including:

  • Drivers license preparation funded by GreenCape and the PMU.
  • Enrolment on study programmes with the University of South Africa and the University of the Cape Peninsula.
  • The interns have gained experience in a range of renewable energy technologies including wind and solar farms and manufacturing facilities.
  • Exposing learners from Atlantis to renewable energy technologies

Learners from Atlantis have received support to attend several events focusing on the renewable energy sector. 2016 also saw the launch of the Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge, a competition for high school learners to submit entries demonstrating their understanding of renewable energy. These initiatives all aim to encourage young people to consider careers in the greentech and renewable energy sectors.

Atlantis learners have also attended other industry events:

skills dev122 learners from the Atlantis School of Skills and Proteus High School attended the SAIREC Expo (October 2015)

 

skills dev3 162 learners from Atlantis high schools attended Windaba, an annual exhibition showcasing the wind power generation industry (November 2015)

34 learners attended African Utility Week (May 2016)

 

skills dev2The top ten entrants of the Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge attended Windaba (November 2016)