Our bricklaying courses are popular and the feedback we have from them is that ‘alumni’ find jobs quickly or have their job security enhanced. A few are able to start their own businesses, some manage to earn a basic living as handymen/women. Here we itemise our courses in reverse chronological order.
October 2025: Building a dormitory room
In October 2025 we are running a training course at Juja Clay in Kenton-on-Sea. We will be training five young people, three from the Amakhala Game Reserve and two from the local community in Kenton.
Juja Clay has been a partner since 2023 and has a track record of training and finding young people employment in ceramics both locally in the Eastern Cape and in Cape Town. An ongoing issue for Juja is housing for sometimes quite vulnerable young people. Amakhala wants to upskill its employees, some of whom are good candidates for practical skills training. We are excited that we can bring these two needs together and train young people to build a dormitory room at Juja Clay’s premises.
Juja Clay has been a partner since 2023 and has a track record of training and finding young people employment in ceramics both locally in the Eastern Cape and in Cape Town. An ongoing issue for Juja is housing for sometimes quite vulnerable young people. Amakhala wants to upskill its employees, some of whom are good candidates for practical skills training. We are excited that we can bring these two needs together and train young people to build a dormitory room at Juja Clay’s premises.
Chairman Ade said “I’ve always wanted to train on real projects, building a box as a training exercise then, at the end of a day, knocking it down doesn’t give the same satisfaction or confidence to trainees. It’s really to good to have a real project and one that will provide a real benefit to young people"
May 2025: bricklaying and electrical skills
May 2025 saw the return of Ade for his second bricklaying course at Klay, with his colleague Michael (Mick) McNally.
Mick has over 50 years’ experience as an electrician. When our Chair, Ade, gave him the opportunity to go to South Africa and pass some of his knowledge on to disadvantaged young people, he jumped at the chance.
The electrical skills course was for both novice and existing electricians. Some gained a new skill making them more employable and some “up skilled” to make their existing jobs more secure.
Khanya provided a basic electrical tool kit to each trainee.
The bricklaying course was also for a mixed ability group.
As well as the generosity of Klay who provide training premises and sponsor our trainers, we were pleased to be working again with Fisantekraal Centre for Development who support and train local unemployed young people. They follow up on trainees and we were pleased to positive receive feedback from them.
Mick has over 50 years’ experience as an electrician. When our Chair, Ade, gave him the opportunity to go to South Africa and pass some of his knowledge on to disadvantaged young people, he jumped at the chance.
The electrical skills course was for both novice and existing electricians. Some gained a new skill making them more employable and some “up skilled” to make their existing jobs more secure.
Khanya provided a basic electrical tool kit to each trainee.
The bricklaying course was also for a mixed ability group.
As well as the generosity of Klay who provide training premises and sponsor our trainers, we were pleased to be working again with Fisantekraal Centre for Development who support and train local unemployed young people. They follow up on trainees and we were pleased to positive receive feedback from them.
November 2024: bricklaying at Klay
In November 2024 we ran what turned out to be the first training course at Klay, one of the largest brickmakers in South Africa, who produce clay bricks, blocks and red clay pavers and well as specialised clay products. The trainees were selected by Fisantekraal Centre for Development. This was a first for Klay who subsequently employed two of our ‘alumni’.
May 2023: bricklaying at Makhana Brick
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.
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
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. 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.
"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.