As part of our ongoing community skills advancement goals, LIXIL Africa has an ongoing working relationship with BluLever Education who train and upskill new-age plumbers from their Braamfontein Campus.
BluLever Education, with the tagline “empowering Africa’s artisans with skills for the future”, ‘develops and trains artisans through holistic vocational education and skills training that creates ethical industry professionals of global standard’.
LIXIL Africa was recently approached by one of the MakersHub Programme participants who aspired to complete a project for his local community. The MakersHub Programme is a flagship incubation programmed of artisan-based businesses that guides a group of budding entrepreneurs though a 4-month intensive programme, helping to improve their business skills and grow their businesses for success.
The focus here is on businesses that will bring value to the South African communities, guiding these businesses in becoming responsible entrepreneurs. The MakersHub Programme is supported by a partnership between Allan Gray Makers, Kandua and BluLever Education.
This MakersHub Programme participant is Tebogo Maleka. Tebogo completed the programme and set out to put his new skills to good use in his community with a project that would help to improve the standard of living for +/- 60 elders in a frail care unit. The frail care unit was under extreme pressure and required efficient plumping systems to meet environmental health and safety standards, and to improve the overall living standards of the residents.
As it turned out Tebogo was willing and ready to put in the hard work by supplying and providing the necessary labour and manpower required to complete such a project – but he was lacking in the funds for the necessary materials.
Assisted by his BluLever Education Apprentice, Zanele Zitha, they approached LIXIL Africa with the opportunity to assist Tebogo in bringing his dream to life and helping to supply the materials needed for the project.
Cobra and GROHE products to the rescue – a range of materials from bath taps, basin taps, mixers, toilet cisterns and plumbing accessories made their way to Tebogo and his community project. Today the job is close to completion.
As we continue to follow the story, we cannot wait to see how Tebogo’s dream continues to come to life and helps to improve the quality of life for the elders in his community and for the people who work in the frail care unit.
South Africa needs people like Tebogo and we wish him a lifetime of success with his entrepreneurial endeavours.