In November 2020, a severe hailstorm devastated the roof of one of the buildings at Umzansi Youth in Business Centre which significantly reduced the classroom and counseling space needed to successfully operate.
In partnership with the South Africa Department of Social Development, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints stepped in to help renovate the building and provide much needed assistance to this important part of the KwaZulu-Natal community.
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Umzansi Youth in Business Centre damage from hailstorm, KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, November 2022.2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
Umzansi-Youth-in-Business-Centre-after-the-renovation,-the-space-is-now-accessible-for-student-learning-and-counseling,-July-2022.
Umzansi-Youth-in-Business-Centre-after-the-renovation,-the-space-is-now-accessible-for-student-learning-and-counseling,-July-2022.2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.As an after-hours school program, its mission is to create a space for meaningful participation in the economy for young people. Its facilities and programs are focused on inviting all young people who are in business or intend to be in business to participate and learn skills that will help them succeed.
On Friday, July 1, 2022, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held with Minister Lindiwe Zulu, Elder Glenn Holmes, Chief Inkosi Zondi, and Mayor Mzi Zuma.
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From left to right, Chief Inkosi Zondi, Zulu tribal leader, Minister Lindiwe Zulu, National Minister of Social Development, Elder Glenn Holmes, Area Authority Seventy, and Mayor Mzi Zuma, Mayor of Msunduzi at Umzansi Youth in Business Centre, July 20222022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.A unique aspect of the Church’s help at the Umzansi Youth in Business centre is that the Church has given permission for the centre to use its Self-Reliance program and manuals to enrich their programs for the youth. Mbongeni Zuma, CEO of the centre said, “we have seen that the Church’s manuals used for searching for jobs to be more effective than the manuals we were using before. They seem to be highly focused, short, and have practical examples of people getting themselves up.”
Nositho Duma is a 17-year-old student who has been enrolled at the centre for six months. She wants to start her own business in livestock farming. She says the centre has helped her get closer to her goal by training her “into having the right mind set on whatever aspect, whatever direction I want to go into, so I feel like they have helped me become the person to pursue and follow my dreams.”
Elder Holmes, the local Area Authority for the Church said that “caring for those in need is a foundational belief of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." He expressed gratitude for Minister Zulu introducing the Church to this project and said, “we are delighted to take part in this exciting initiative that has the potential to touch thousands of young people."
After cutting the ribbon, Minister Zulu addressed the students and youth facilitators. In her remarks she said, “we are really grateful that you as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints saw it important and you found it important to look deeper into your pockets, which by the way should not be taken for granted because where you took, you took from your own community, where you took, you took from people who sacrificed and said we will contribute to the wellbeing of communities all over."
Elder Holmes noted that “we have great love for the youth, they have the power to shape the future.” The Umzansi Youth in Business centre is a beacon of hope and will develop a new generation of leaders who will be a force for good in the world.