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WorldSkills S.A. is raising the standard of skills in the country through local, regional and national competitions within the trades. These test and raise the level of vocational skills as well as assess communication, teamwork, business skills and leadership. The cherry on the top is that four overall winners have recently been selected from their respective trades to represent South Africa at the WorldSkills Competition (‘Olympics’ of the trades), in Helsinki, Finland, from the 26th to the 29th May 2005.
The proud SA Team are keenly gearing up to compete against the international WorldSkills competitors from 42 member countries. Thembinkosi Matyeka (welding), Michelle Groenewald (ladies/men’s Hair), Rihan Serfontein (automobile technology) and Koos Kies (refrigeration) will represent South Africa in Helsinki. They will compete with 610 other participants in what is the largest gathering of trades expertise in the world.
“Competing at world level raises the individual and the skill beyond mere competence toward excellence. This year there are only four out of a potential 40 South African trades competing,” says dynamic CEO of Worldskills S.A., Marella O’Reilly. “We hope to enter at least another ten trades by the next WorldSkills International competition in Japan in 2007.”
The WorldSkills S.A. Team needs specific abilities to enable them to perform at their utmost and to cope with the pressure of the international competition. The team is undergoing preparation with Macsteel Maestros Lifeskills - a programme of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa. Topics covered will include dealing with controlable and non-controlable aspects of the competition, time and diversity management, coping with success (and failure), motivation and team building.
They will be departing for Helsinki on the 21st May at 09h30 from Johannesburg International Airport. Says Rihan Serfontein, of Diesselec Klerksdorp, representing Automotive Technology: “I am very glad that I won the Young Mechanic of the year in South Africa. I am very honoured to be representing my country and will give my very best to show the World that South Africa has the talent, and to come back with a medal.”
Planning for the 2006 S.A. National Competition has already begun. WorldSkills would like to see the competition open up to include as many vocational trades as possible, providing further opportunities for growth to the participants.
‘This support has to come from the highest level. When we see the pride and enthusiasm from the current group of finalists, it is extremely important for all the trades, that they be part of this programme. We wish our S.A. Team the very best for the WorldSkills Competition, Helsinki.’ she concludes.
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