Sixteen unemployed people in the Kunene Region on Wednesday received practical training on how to manufacture quality super bricks that they can sell.
The three hour training session was held at Outjo and was offered by two brickmaking experts from the Ohorongo Cement factory and Outjo Build It.
Ohorongo Cement Technical Advisor, Jurgens Nel who headed the theoretical and practical session said the trainees were selected with the assistance of the Kunene Regional Governor’s office.
The 15 men and one woman come from constituencies of Opuwo Urban, Kamanjab and Outjo.
Nel showed these trainees the appropriate quantity of sand, cement and water needed to manufacture a quality super brick and also how to mix them.
The trainees were also given brickmaking manuals which outline what is needed and to do in order to manufacture a quality super brick.
“Go out there and use this skill you acquired to manufacture bricks and sell them to any Build It shop in your local areas to develop yourselves, your communities and our country,” he said.
Ohorongo Cement and the Built It in 2017 had agreed to conduct these training initiatives to capacitate trainees to manufacture the bricks which Build It shops countrywide will then purchase in bulks from them.
The trainees also expressed satisfaction with the skills transferred to them, saying they now know what to do, and will go home to start up their own income generating brickmaking businesses.
Michelle Hitiraukunga, one of the trainees, said with the brickmaking skill acquired, she will only need a sizeable space to start making bricks and employ others to manufacture more.
“Since the Build It shop will buy my bricks, I am confident this business will succeed,” she said.
Another trainee, Santino Ngapurue on his part thanked Ohorongo Cement and Build It for the training, which was offered for free.
“From here, I am already a brickmaking entrepreneur and believe me, I only promise to deliver quality bricks,” he said.
The trainees were issued with attendance certificates.
The training has been given to different regions since March 2017 with only Zambezi, Hardap, //Kharas and Omaheke regions.