New business training centre for Dunoon

A walk-in business and career training centre was launched in Dunoon last week to tackle unemployment.

The Silulo Foundation Business and Career Centre is at the Roma Centre along Winning Way in Dunoon Racing Park.

More than 40 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including ward councillor Meisie Makuwa as well as representatives from the founders of the project, Astron Energy Development Fund and the Silulo Foundation.

Luvuyo Rani, who founded the Silulo Foundation in 2023, said the organisation was set on bringing digital transformation to disadvantaged communities around the City, with Dunoon being only one of many.

The foundation’s programmes focused on entrepreneurship and training, he said.

The head of AEDF, Debbie Parker, said the new centre would focus on training for unemployed youth and budding entrepreneurs.

“This initiative will provide training for small businesses, allowing them to formalise and grow their businesses,” she said.

The Silulo Foundation said it had identified 240 entrepreneurs who would be put through a 10-month training programme at the centre.

Future plans, it added, included enrolling a further 600 unemployed people, especially youth, in a free six-month programme teaching digital skills.

Dunoon community leader Lundi Wulana said the centre would serve as a beacon of hope for the community and surrounding areas.

“We have so many young people who are willing to work but need the resources and training to equip them with the skills so that they can become economically active citizens,” she said.

Ms Makuwa said she was excited to be part of the initiative and would support its plans.