WINDHOEK-The University of Namibia (Unam) in collaboration with Social Security Commission (SSC) on Tuesday conferred qualifications to 334 domestic workers.
The domestic workers took part in the training that started last year in May until January this year.
The training was conducted by the University Central Consultancy Bureau (UCCB) of the University of Namibia. The training was funded by the Development Fund Section of the Social Security Commission.
The graduation ceremony took place at the NamPower Convention Centre.
“Students that received certificates are the ones that finished the course. The course had two phase, the first section was the theory and second phase was practical,’’ said Anna Haipinge, the Project Administrator of Capacity Building and Training.
She explained that in the first phase, students attended classes with manual books and an instructor and the second phase was broken down into practical modules.
Haipinge said this was the first training they had and she described it as a huge success.
A second such workshop is being lined up, Haipinge said. The UCCB has realised that many people need skills that they can use to help them do their domestic work well.
“The training was for free and it was advertised in the newspaper for those who wanted to come and learn more on domestic work and those who wanted to increase their knowledge in their work ’’ she said
She said the UCCB teaches the domestic workers basic skills, as they deal with many things, they take care of the house and they take care of children, they want to equip them in more basic things and they want the training to go further as this is just the beginning.
She said that the UCCB has four division, namely capacity building and training, consultancy, ICT academy and business development.
Haipinge further noted that the capacity building and training has a program that runs under it. The domestic worker training content covered was House Management, Childcare, Basic labour law, Budgeting and personal finance training, the training was sponsored by the Social Security Development Fund.
“I am very confident to say that all of you will make worthwhile contribution to your family and to our country at large’’ said Evaristus Evaristus, the Acting Coordinating Director of UCCB
He added that receiving the certificate does not mean the end but rather a signal of the beginning of a long journey. “You must continue to participate in these things to better your life’’, he added
He also added that success is a journey not a destination. “It is not what you do but what you will receive that gives you a meaning in your life, that will determination of success in your lives and live a life of impact and be willing to make a different’’, concluded Evaristus.