Following the successful community engagement initiative centred on a critical human resources skills development workshop for the homeless in 2023, the Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Department of Human Resources Management recently partnered with the Department of Marketing and Retail Managemeent to provide human resource management, labour law, entrepreneurship, and marketing skills to residents at the Kickstart Homeless Shelter in Durban.
Aligned with the DUT ENVISION2030 Values Framework, the workshops focused on making a meaningful impact in society through human resource management, labour law, entrepreneurship, and marketing skills to assist them in joining the workforce or starting small businesses and leaving the shelter and lives of poverty behind.
DUT lecturer Mrs Humairaa Mohammed coordinated the week-long programme, which included presentations by DUT lecturers on Entrepreneurship by Ms Patience Mutsvairigwa, Basic Labour Law by Mr Eugene Makhoba, Work Preparedness by Dr Pauline Eyono, Basic Marketing by Dr Tessa Reddy, and Dr Sandile Mkhize, as well as Values in the Workplace by Mr Kudzai Nigel Makuwe.
Speaking on this year’s programme, Mrs Mohammed mentioned that in 2023, they focused on human resource management, labour law, and basic financial literacy. However, this time around, they decided to include entrepreneurship and marketing because some of the residents within the shelter are trying to start businesses or are talented and need to learn how to market themselves and their products.
“For example, one woman makes her own cleaning products, and another is an exceptional painter. They needed the skills to market themselves and their products. We partnered with the Department of Marketing and Retail Management for this request from the Shelter,” she said.
She mentioned that this initiative shows the institution’s commitment to giving back to the community and upskilling citizens who have no way of attaining formal education due to their circumstances.
“Those residents who are seeking jobs will benefit from our human resource management workshops, which teach them how to prepare for entry into the labour market, behave as professional employees, and understand their rights as employees. Those who are starting their own businesses will benefit from the lessons in entrepreneurship and marketing,” said Mohammed.
She added that the participating residents will receive certificates of attendance from DUT, which they can include in their CVs, and can help them find employment, earn an income, and leave the shelter to lead normal lives as productive members of society.
Pictured: Attendees at the workshop.
Thulasizwe Nkomo
