Makana Brick and UK Charity Khanya partner to build tomorrow, today
In May 2023 10 trainees, and two teachers from Amasango Career School in Makhanda attended a course run by master bricklayer, and Chair of Khanya charity, Ade Lusmore. Ade was delighted to discover that Makhanda is home to one of the biggest brick manufacturers in South Africa, Makana Brick. Founded in 1994, Makana Brick makes clay bricks that are eco-friendly, durable, and affordable. Ade and Makana CEO, Colin Meyer, partnered to make this training programme possible. Colin identified the 10 participant trainees, provided the training space, and Khanya the bricklaying kits needed to equip trainees to learn, as well as Ade Lusmore himself, his travel to South Africa, and his skills. Here you can see the students hard at work
The two teacher participants from Amasango, were women, in this traditionally male-dominated profession. Colleagues Pumla Patricia Kalipa and Sibongile Booi intend, with further support from Khanya, to launch bricklaying as a course at Amasango, a school for learneres with psycho-social barriers to learning. “In a world where formal employment is scarce, these courses will equip learners with a skill to begin work quickly and in time start their own businesses, contributing to job creation in an area where poverty is rife” says Amasango Principal, Dr Girlie Shadaya.