WINDHOEK– If you have eyes for an artistic career then guess what? The Community Skills Development Foundation (COSDEF) is calling on community artists and craftpeople interested in the field of retail and hospitality to apply for its courses at its new Arts & Crafts Centre opening in October.
COSDEF is a Swakopmund based centre with the aim of training and mentoring unemployed youth and previously disadvantaged groups to create opportunities for employment, self- employment, skills development, entrepreneurship and to give marketing support to its trainees. According to the National Arts & Craft Coordinator in Swakopmund, Michelle //Inixas, all training at the centre have no entry level requirements and one can gain quality skills at affordable prices. This will be an exciting space to be filled with performing Arts, innovation and creativity being the prime ingredients to make it a 100 percent Namibian cultural experience,” says //Inixas.
The Centre offers short courses and mentoring programmes, and its main priority is Innovation and Design which includes Small Business Training such as costing and pricing, marketing, branding, bookkeeping, customer care and financial literacy as well as craft skills courses such as bead weaving, basic drawing, leather work, needlework, textile painting etc. “Trainees should contact us at the Centre for the prices of the courses, as prices differ for each course, especially the longer mentoring programmes and tailor made courses but affordability for our target market is a high priority. So courses are very reasonably priced.We are really trying to make a difference in the communities we serve,” she says.
Besides the courses and programmes, the Centre will also offer a full cultural package including hosting events and shows at its Amphitheatre and stage, a funky restaurant, a Multi-Purpose Centre, small Ovahimba village, Namibian Craft Collection Shops, a Gallery, Sculpture Garden, food stalls, production Units, retail shops and Training rooms.
COSDEF is a registered trust co-ordinating, supporting and supervising the various Community Skills Development Centres (COSDECs) and other training providers that offer competency-based skills training to various communities throughout Namibia – primarily the youth and previously disadvantaged groups. For more information and how to apply e-mail: tsncraft@iway.na
By Selma Neshiko