The Key to Success De Goede Hoop S-Leer Sol-Tech AfriForum Youth Akademia

Solidarity has been your ally in the workplace since 1902 and its plans for a free, safe and prosperous future are big. Solidarity believes that its members can be protected by knowledge in an unsure economy and that a future for young South Africans can be opened by learning. Therefore, Solidarity aims to build training institutions, as well as to create training opportunities for members of the community as far as possible. Solidarity cherish and promotes education through the Solidarity Building Fund as well as the Solidarity Helping Hand Study Fund Centre. There are currently many factors threatening the future of current training institutions and thus it creates a very uncertain picture for the young people of today. The Building Fund initiated by Solidarity’s main goal is to look after the needs of its people and their future by building institutions wherein good quality tertiary education as well as training in special skills can be offered to students. Sol-Tech is only one of the institutions established through the Building Fund and today this institution is known as the biggest Afrikaans private training college in South Africa. The 2020 future-plan of the Solidarity Movement includes big developments from primary school to university level. Part of the planning includes the building of a new training campus that will be the home of various training institutions. The Solidarity Helping Hands’ Study Fund Centre, previously known as the Afrikaans Scholarship Institute, is the other way in which Solidarity invests in young people’s futures. This centre aims to assist Solidarity members and their children by means of financial help for tertiary education so that they also have the opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge. The Study Fund Centre offered 6 981 students the chance to tertiary education over the last 8 years to a total of R126 million. The success stories of Akademia, Sol-Tech and the Solidarity Helping Hand Study Fund Centre is a testimony that Solidarity has a winning recipe for world class education and training. A key that will open the doors to a bright future. Join Solidarity today and SMS the word LETSBUILD to 34802 (R1/SMS) or let us know where you would like to build at https://solidariteit.co.za/bousaam/#meningspeiling  

Universities are constantly changing as time progresses. The implementation of racial quotas, the elimination of Afrikaans and the abolition of traditions transformed the university residences in such a way that there is not room for students looking for an Afrikaans student life. In turbulent circumstances, it is important to have ships of excellence and islands of independence. Therefore, The civil rights organisation AfriForum, established De Goede Hoop residence as an independent island to create a space for Afrikaans students in turbulent circumstances. De Goede Hoop is so much more than just a residence in the heart of Pretoria – it is a home for dynamic student’s whose heart beats in Afrikaans. This modern, private residence for both men and women, strives to create a safe space for students in which they can enjoy their student life freely and confidently. De Goede Hoop opened their doors in January 2017 for the first time and boasts with accommodation facilities for 99 students. This residence is already heading for success in its first year of existence, with 66 filled rooms. According to Stefan Pieterse, Housefather of De Goede Hoop, they already have 27 applications for next year. “We have no doubt that we will be filled to brim next year,” said the proud Housefather. Even though De Goede Hoop was initiated by the AfriForum, the institution is completely separate from the Movement. The value of De Goede Hoop is that their beliefs in terms of language and religion create an ideological sphere in which they can express themselves. This living monument for student life builds on a culture of progress and plays a major role in education. It is a home where students can participate in a culture-rich experience and where fellow believers can live, study and visit together. The only future you can predict is one that you build yourself. #Let’sBuild. SMS LET’SBUILD to 34802 (R1).

Lize-Mari Labuschagne   The Solidarity Movement offers an opportunity to their members to develop their abilities and skills to such an extent that they can get and retain their dream job in order to live freely, safely and prosperously. S-leer helps you to achieve your career goals by empowering professional people with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points as well as personal development. S-Leer helps you to live up to your calling and to create a good job for yourself. Traditional training has changed unrecognisable with technology’s development. S-leer uses the same model and technology as Akademia, where students across the country can be part of a training session by means of a digital classroom with interactive video technology. S-leer also use other ways to fit everyone’s different learning needs and circumstances. Together with smart technology S-leer offers training opportunities to more people. According to Leana Leonard, S-leer’s Managing Director, S-leer offers a wonderful opportunity to develop people’s skills. “We literally place building blocks to build someone’s career and future and then strengthen it with our unique S-leer cement: Two parts knowledge, one part hospitality and one part fun, because learning which is fun, provides knowledge that is stronger.” Seminars and courses that can be expected from S-leer:

• Ethics and wellness
• Court practices
• Trauma work sessions
• Spokes-person training
• Discover your trade mark
• Administrating and managing your practice
• The rights of children in health care
• Substance problems – more than a mouthful

Francois Redelinghuys Even though I have visited Sol-Tech, Solidarity’s training college in Kirkney, Pretoria many times, I am always stunned by the impressive growth and progress that the college is making from one visit to the next. In my opinion it is safe to say that Sol-Tech is becoming one of the most modern and fast growing training colleges for artisans in South Africa. Even though Sol-Tech was established only 10 years ago, it offers training in rare skills such as a millwright, fitter and turner and toolmaker to around 1 000 full-time students with these career paths filling big gaps in the South African labour market. It is however, the way in which Sol-Tech’s students are trained where the secret of the college’s success lies. The days where tools and other artisan related production was only done per hand have long passed. There is increasingly a trend in which sophisticated machinery in the world of artisans is used to stay in line with the demand of the growing market, and this is where Sol-Tech distinguishes itself from other technical training colleges. Sol-Tech is constantly acquiring the latest practices and equipment used in this industry so that students are already exposed to this type of equipment at training level. Students also have the advantage of running simulations on many of this highly specialised equipment in order to train and prepare them in the best possible way. Sol-Tech students are very sought after when entering the labour market due to the training they receive and it is not surprising that 94,7% of Sol-Tech students are currently in positions. With Sol-Tech’s lecturers who live their passion, Sol-Tech students have every arrow in their quiver to make a huge success of their careers. In a labour environment where unemployment is especially high under young people, Sol-Tech’s training allows them to compete in a competitive labour market with great success. Build quality institutions such as Sol-Tech with Solidarity. SMS LETSBUILD to 34802 or visit www.solidariteit.co.za/en/letsbuild/.  

AfriForum Youth is a student organization and the official youth wing of AfriForum, the civil rights initiative established by the Solidarity Movement. AfriForum Youth is also the fastest growing youth organization in South Africa. They aim to promote independence among young Afrikaners and to influence the realities in South Africa by driving campaigns and actively stepping in for young people’s civil rights. AfriForum Youth regularly offers social opportunities, discussions and training sessions. As a member, you can partake in proactive actions and campaigns on matters that determine your future. The environment in which students move seems to be an easy target for perpetrators and criminals, therefore one of these proactive actions includes empowering students with the necessary knowledge and skills so that they can be aware of their circumstances. Henk Maree, national chairperson of AfriForum Youth believes that the key to protecting the youth is sustainable awareness. Training sessions about security are arranged for students to address issues such as rape and how women can protect themselves from these incidents. In a recent incident with illegal marches on the campus of the University of the Free State where student safety was in jeopardy, AfriForum Youth called for assistance from AfriForum neighbourhood guards to guide these students safely from the residences. Membership to AfriForum Youth is free and anyone who agrees with AfriForum Youth's policy may join. Young employees are also encouraged to join AfriForum Youth branches in towns. AfriForum Youth also runs campaigns to make school-going youth aware of their rights and to promote quality education. AfriForum Youth runs five active campaigns, namely:

• to free young people from affirmative action;
• to promote and protect Afrikaans and mother tongue education;
• to prevent political interference in education;
• to develop youth’s abilities, knowledge and skills;
• and to protect healthy student traditions.

Sms LETSBUILD to 34802 (R1/sms) and choose the themes from Solidarity’s building plan that are closest to your heart and then sign up to build together at https://solidariteit.co.za/bousaam/. #Let’sBuild on a free, safe and prosperous tomorrow!

In Akademia’s sixth year of existence, one thing is certain: This private higher education institution is building a workforce that will be able to enter the job market with confidence and proficiency. According to Akademia’s operational manager, Paul Vogel, the institution’s growing success can be ascribed to its unique model that provides Afrikaans students with the opportunity to study in their mother tongue and to attend classes after hours. “It is a place where students can study while gaining work experience at the same time. This year, 730 students have enrolled at Akademia. Most of our students already have jobs, therefore they will have the advantage of job experience when they enter the job market after they have completed their studies,” Vogel said. Interactive video conferencing technology is used to enable interactive distance learning contact sessions nearly countrywide. This means that students working fulltime can attend contact sessions on pre-scheduled evenings in one of the centres near their homes. These contact sessions are also recorded and students can download the class within 72 hours after the contact session and review it in their own time. In these uncertain times in our country’s university system, Akademia provides a safe, study-friendly environment where students may obtain qualifications in several BCom courses. Fields of study include:

• BCom degrees: Akademia already offers accredited BCom degrees in Business Management, Management Accounting, Financial Planning and in Economics and Law.

• Advanced diplomas: An Advanced Diploma in Project Management is offered to project managers in the workplace who would like to obtain a formal qualification in this field (a three-year diploma or degree is a prerequisite).

• Higher Certificates: The Higher Certificate in Accounting and Office Administration (General / Project Administration) are NQF 5 accredited year courses that serve as bridging courses for Akademia’s BCom degree programmes.

At the moment, Akademia has 11 centres across the country at which students attend lectures. Using modern technology the lectures are broadcast from the campus in Centurion to study centres in Pretoria Moot, Pretoria Lynnwood, Centurion, Boksburg, Krugersdorp, Vanderbijlpark, Bloemfontein, Paarl, Durbanville, Somerset-West and in George. “Students leave Akademia well equipped as they could master course material, often only available in English, thanks to the fact that lecturers could present and explain course content in Afrikaans,” Vogel said. Prospective students can also apply for interest-free study loans to pay for their studies. Moreover, Akademia offers bridging opportunities for students who do not qualify for direct access to BCom degree studies. Students can enrol for higher certificates in Accounting or Office Administration (Project Administration) which, in turn, give access to degree studies. At its fifth annual graduation ceremony Akademia reached a new milestone when this academic institution conferred its first BCom degrees. Thirteen students, who had enrolled for the BCom Business Management Programme in 2014 completed their studies last year, received their degrees at the degree ceremony. Apart from the conferment of the 13 BCom Business Management degrees, 14 Advanced Diplomas in Project Management, three Diplomas in Small Business Management, one Diploma in Marketing, 19 Higher Certificates in Office Administration and 26 Higher Certificates in Accountancy have been awarded at the ceremony. “During the past five years, Akademia has brought university level qualification of the highest calibre within reach of Afrikaans-speaking students as never before. In 2012 we started out by offering higher certificate programmes, and in 2017 we conferred our first degrees,” Piet le Roux, Akademia’s Head of Academics, said. Build quality institutions such as Akademia with Solidarity. SMS LETSBUILD to 34802 or visit www.solidariteit.co.za/en/letsbuild/.