By Siphiwe Vilakati | Executive Director
Background
Ngihlomise Youth Skills Academy is a community-based vocational education and training institution established by Super Buddies Club (SBC) in Big Bend, Lubombo Region, Eswatini. The Academy provides practical vocational, entrepreneurship and life skills training to unemployed and vulnerable young people, including adolescent girls and young women who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV).
As part of its commitment to supporting young people in conflict with the law, particularly those imprisoned for minor offences, the Academy provides skills development opportunities aimed at equipping them with practical and marketable skills that can support their successful reintegration into society.
The Academy enrolled young people in Services in vocational training programmes, including Welding and Fabrication and Plumbing. These skills have the potential to improve participants' access to employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship opportunities upon completion of their sentences.
Purpose of the Practical Training
The practical training was undertaken to complement classroom-based vocational training by giving the young participants an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired in real-life work environments.
The specific purposes were to:
Activities Undertaken
In September 2026, Ngihlomise Youth Skills Academy conducted practical learning activities for the young people enrolled in the Academy's vocational programmes.
Welding and Fabrication Practical Training
Welding students were given an opportunity to undertake a practical assignment involving the fabrication of a gate for a client. The activity enabled the students to apply their classroom knowledge in a real production environment.
Through this practical assignment, the students were exposed to:
The assignment also demonstrated to the students that welding skills can be used to establish small businesses and produce marketable products such as gates, burglar bars, washing lines, irrigation stands and other steel products.
Plumbing Practical Training
The plumbing students were taken to a local company where they participated in a practical plumbing project. This exposure enabled them to experience a real work environment and apply the theoretical knowledge gained during their training.
The activity provided exposure to:
Impact and Outcomes
The practical training provided important benefits to the participating young people and contributed to the Academy's broader rehabilitation and economic empowerment objectives.
Improved Practical Skills
Participants strengthened their ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical tasks. The welding students gained direct experience in producing a customer-ordered product, while plumbing students gained exposure to an actual work environment.
Increased Confidence and Work Readiness
The practical assignments helped participants build confidence in their ability to perform vocational tasks. Exposure to real work situations also helped them understand expectations around punctuality, teamwork, safety, responsibility and quality workmanship.
Exposure to Entrepreneurship
The welding assignment demonstrated that vocational skills can be converted into income-generating businesses. Participants were able to see how a simple customer order can be transformed into a finished product and a potential source of income.
Improved Employability
The experience is expected to improve participants' readiness for employment after their release. Practical experience, combined with vocational training, gives participants a stronger foundation for seeking employment or establishing their own small businesses.
Contribution to Rehabilitation and Reintegration
The programme provides imprisoned youth with a constructive pathway towards rehabilitation by equipping them with skills that can support productive livelihoods after release. Rather than returning to their communities without economic opportunities, participants can use the skills acquired to pursue employment, entrepreneurship and other positive livelihood opportunities.
Strengthened Linkages with the Private Sector
Taking students to local companies for practical exposure creates opportunities for collaboration between Ngihlomise Youth Skills Academy and the private sector. Such partnerships can support future practical training, workplace attachments, mentorship, employment opportunities and market access for graduates.
Conclusion
The September 2026 practical training demonstrated the importance of combining classroom-based vocational education with hands-on experience. The welding and plumbing activities enabled imprisoned youth to apply their skills in real-life situations while gaining valuable exposure to workplace standards, customer requirements and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Ngihlomise Youth Skills Academy remains committed to using vocational skills development as a tool for rehabilitation, economic empowerment and successful reintegration of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. Continued support for practical training, industry exposure, workplace attachments and entrepreneurship development will be essential in ensuring that these young people leave the correctional system with skills and opportunities that can help them build productive and independent lives.
By Siphiwe Vilakati | Executive Director
By Siphiwe Vilakati | Executive Director
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