“VUT E-Skills Department celebrates 29 graduates from its Cellphone Repair Programme in Bloemfontein, equipping youth with practical, in-demand skills.”
22 July 2025 | Story By: Staff Reporter | Picture: Supplied
2 minutes read time.
A sense of pride, hope, and achievement filled the air at the Phillip Sanders Resort in Bloemfontein as the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) E-Skills Department, in collaboration with the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA), hosted a special certificate ceremony for 29 participants of its Cellphone Repair Programme.
This impactful initiative forms part of VUT’s mission to empower youth through practical, in-demand technical skills that offer real economic opportunities.
The event was officially opened by the Head of Department at DESTEA, Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ, who delivered a warm welcome and commended the organisers and participants for their commitment to addressing youth unemployment and advancing skills development in the Free State.
Mrs Antoinette Lombard, Director of the VUT E-Skills CoLab, delivered an uplifting message to the graduates and guests. “It is a moment of pride and joy,” she said, noting that in order to gain something, the participants had to let something go. “What they lost was their ‘unemployment status’,” she remarked, before encouraging the recipients with a powerful reminder: “This project is a project of hope, of building dreams, and of changing lives, one broken cellphone at a time.”
Delivering the keynote address, MEC for DESTEA, Mr Moses Ketso Makume, acknowledged the sobering reality of youth unemployment, which currently stands at 62.4%. He emphasised the urgent need for innovative and practical solutions. “This programme has tapped into the potential and capabilities of young people,” said MEC Makume, applauding the initiative for equipping its participants with skills they can use to earn a livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the economy.
Two student representatives, Miss Zandile Twala and Mr Lefu Moshoeshoe, shared heartfelt reflections on their learning journeys. They spoke of the knowledge they had acquired, the friendships formed, and the dreams reignited. Their testimonies revealed the programme’s profound personal and professional impact, not only in repairing devices but in restoring confidence and hope.
Managed by the VUT E-Skills Department in partnership with all contributing organisations, the Cellphone Repair Programme forms part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide and empower youth through accessible, relevant technical training. The certificate ceremony served as a reminder that with the right skills, even a small toolkit and one broken phone can open the door to business ownership, employment, and transformation.
As the graduates held up their certificates with pride, the room erupted in applause, a celebration of academic achievement and the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunity, purpose, and self-reliance.