After the completion of the build on the Exhibition Centre at the end of May 2019, we are pleased to be utilizing the building for training. Until more funding can be raised, this building will be multi-purpose, serving training and other functions.
Welcome to VDI!
A year on and the ground-breaking has given way to progress in the form of many build projects on the VDI site. The building of the Exhibition Centre received first priority, whilst other activities within the project were finalised.
The Exhibition Centre was completed at the end of May 2019 and it has been inspected and approved by the Building Inspector, and Structural Engineer. The building will be used for VDI / GCBR meetings, training and events.
Our land underwent a miraculous overhaul and with a lot of hard work has been transformed into sports fields.
Other building activities that are now complete include the main entrance and rockery, which were completed on 15 May 2019.
Rockery alongside the drive way
Our entrance wall
For more photos please visit our projects page.
A year after the delivery of our first training course and the programmes are still going strongly. We now present four courses, namely:
Not only do the learners cover our course material the enriched programme has the added benefit of teaching other skills, like:
Skills obtained from a training course could be implemented in other GCBR projects, e.g. The erosion control methods learned were implemented during the Spekboom Jobs4Carbon project at Mount Rouge. Opportunities like these must be investigated for other GCBR projects.
Not all learners were self-motivated to attend the courses, but were there because their employers signed them up. By identifying these individuals and giving special attention to them, they changed their attitude and at the end of the course were positive and contributed significantly to the training process.
The first year was challenging but at the same time very rewarding. With the VDI’s own training facility close to completion, and the lessons learned, there is a bright future ahead.
Our success and achievement culminated in the Certificate Award Ceremony which took place in December 2018.
Certificate Award Ceremony 2018: Recipients of certificates, GCBR and VDI board members.
How to prepare an alien plant for eradication
Learners attending the Entrepreneurship course
Watch this short video to learn more about the VDI and our goals.
The first training on Combating Soil Erosion was held from 25 June to 29 June 2018. 10 learners attended the 4-day course (40% female participation). This course requires some classroom work but also in the veld for practical training. The next training on Combating Soil Erosion will be held from 16 July 18 to 20 July 2018 and 20 learners will attend this 4-day course.
Earthworks have begun. In May 2018, earth-moving equipment and teams of local labour began pre-construction site clearing. Read More