The job market has been rapidly changing, fitting in with changing technology. The individuals and society who have the means to adapt to these changing times have been benefiting astronomically. However, marginalised groups still exist and find it challenging to adapt to new times that they are not adequately equipped for, and the youth of marginalised groups suffer the most.
Mark Robbins is a managing director at Robtronics PTY LTD and has invested his whole heart into ensuring that the youth from marginalised communities have a future through the 2022/2023 Leanership Intake. Robtronics is part of the Blue Label group, and they took over the entire Cell C repair centre. One of Cell C’s requirements of the takeover was that Robtronics would develop a learning programme. The new entity from this is Dunoworx, the new Cell C repair centre, which is also a 51% black owned entity.
Cell C contributed enterprise development grant to facilitate the training of ten black youth. The first intake began in 2022 was a success as 5 of the 10 learners were employed and the other five learners are at Robtronics, developing a television repair start-up business. The ten learners were hand picked out of one hundred candidates. The current leaners come from Thembisa, Alexandra Township and Soweto as well as Midrand. However, the learners’ distance from the training centre is taken into consideration.
Robtronics/Dunoworx stands strong on the belief that the youth need skills that will make them employable and adaptable, with routine repetitive job skills being replaced by creative thinking as well as adaptive learning, digital skills have become increasingly critical for employability. Although society has been told to prepare for the future, the most important question is who will help marginalised communities take a step into the proposed digital future.
Robtronics/Dunoworx is passionate about helping youth and has been completely committed to training enthusiastic candidates and will continue to do so for the next 12 months during the Learnership Programme. The company’s wish is for the talented ten candidates to become fully qualified Mobile Phone Repair Technicians. Robtronics has a combined 45 years of experience, including sophisticated systems to manage all variables that encompass the after-sales aspect of mobile device repairs and services
“Skills development involves acquiring new knowledge, improving existing skills and developing new competencies that are relevant to our chosen profession. It can take many forms, such as formal education, job training and direct learning. Let us commit ourselves to skills development and take advantage of the many opportunities that are available to us,” states Robbins.
Robbins highlights on how the development of young people goes beyond simply providing them with access to education and job opportunities, rather it involves providing them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to become leaders and change-makers in their respective communities.
“When we invest in youth development, we are investing in the future of our society. We are creating a generation of informed, engaged, and responsible citizens who are equipped to tackle the challenges of our world. Investing in youth development helps to address issues of poverty and inequality by providing young people with opportunities to improve socio-economic status.” Robbins comments.
Robbins further states that when young people are given the tools to make a positive impact in their communities, they become aware of the issues facing society and are motivated to make a difference. Moreover, investing in youth development is a long-term investment in the sustainability of a society.
“Today marks the start of our second intake. The start of the programme has proven to be an interesting task, requiring both time and dedication, that has offered us the opportunity to meet South Africa’s finest youth. The learners are given a monthly stipend and time and attendance bonus. Our end goal is to have our 10 dynamic students fully versed and employable in the telecoms industry,” states Robbins.
The most important takeaway from this learnership is that the leaners will have the skills to start their own businesses and employ other people, alleviating the unemployment rate. The intense programme is made up of well-carved-out modules facilitated by experienced technicians and engineers.
The course modules cover soft skills such as entrepreneurial skills, customer service, front desk management =, personal grooming, sales skills, and customer communication skills. With the full completion of the modules, the students are placed within various parts of the business to gain practical skills.
Sizwe Pungwayo was part of the 2022 intake and is now working for Samsung as a junior technician. “If you told me that two years ago that I would be where I am today, I would not have believed you. This programme gives people hope and gives back to the community,” he states.
As someone who has greatly benefitted from the programme, Sizwe hopes that the programme grows even more. He also wishes that a fully kitted facility will be built that solely focuses on skills development. He also acknowledges the kindness and love of everyone who helped him get to where he is.
“To the new intake, this programme is fun. Have fun with it, it’s the best way to learn, but take it seriously. There is a lot riding on the project, give it your all and Mark Robbins will take care of you;” Sizwe adds.
The training programmer developer at Microlek, Lorenzo, is one of the facilitators for the intake. Microlek is an educational academy that is registered with MICTseta (Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority). It is a premier mobile phone repair training institute as well as one of the best in the Southern Hemisphere.
“Apart from the facilitators, we have the internal assessors at Microlek who oversee the programme. They also assess the learners to see if they are competent or not. We have the moderators who moderate the work compiled by the assessors and the verifier, the person at MICTseta who does the verification of the whole programme,” Lorenzo states.
Lorenzo highlights the Portfolio of Evidence, which the learners will be compiling and signing during the programme. All portfolios are submitted to MICTseta so that all information used verifies the programme.
Elsie Matlho, the Senior Manager for transformation from Cell C encouraged that the leaners to do well and applauded the four females who were part of the intake as it is difficult for females in the industry.
“From Cell C, we are saying that these are the tools that we are giving to you, make use of it. Take this opportunity to further your skills development. At Cell C, we push for skills development. There are possibilities that in the coming 5 years, you must create your own job. The company will be hiring, but the machines are taking over, and you will be repairing those machines. So, make sure that the investment that Mark is putting in won’t go to waste, use it,” Matlho comments.
Robtronics also recognises that socio-emotional skills are extremely important to building resilience in the industry, and they make sure to incorporate it into their curriculum as they train and power the youth. Robtronics will have the next intake in 2024 and have made it easy for the youth to join as the leanership requirements are not difficult; applicants must be between the age of 18-28, must be a South African citizen, must have passed matric, read, and write in English. Applicants must also provide valid bank accounts, must have a SARS tax number, present a recent CV, and be preferably vaccinated. Potential candidates can apply through the blue train group and SA Youth.
