By: Nomatshawe Bangani
Estate Agency Affairs Board is offering young people a chance to become qualified estate agents through the ‘One learner – One Estate Agency’ Youth Empowerment Brigade programme.
The programme aimed to enhance economic development and job creation, places intern estate agents in the service of registered estate agency enterprises, for skills transfer within the sector. The programme targets previously disadvantaged youth between the ages of 18 and 35.
Speaking at the EAAB roadshow in East London Project Manager of transformation initiatives Sipho Tyira said during the learnership, interns are exposed to 12 months of theoretical study which will after completion be equivalent to a NQF level 4 qualification. The interns will be exposed to practical experience during the job training on what it means to be an estate agent.
Tyira said one of the main aims of the programme is to create individuals that are not going to be employees but individuals who will become employers. He added that since the inception of phase one of the programme in 2015, the Eastern Cape had 13 participants and about 20 in phase two.
“One of the reason we have not done big numbers is based on the budget allocation that we receive from the Services Seta Grant. If we had a bigger budget we would be able to make a bigger impact,” he said.
After one of the roadshow attendees mentioned that there is not much done to promote estate agency as a career, Tyira said the board has plans to intensify awareness in terms of consumers education through roadshows that will cover all nine provinces.
“I know that CPUT offers a 3 year diploma in Real Estate and UFH and NMU offer a degree in Human Settlement which also covers real estate. This can also be a route one can take to become a real estate agent, but we also have plans to promote this career further through this programme and roadshow,” said Tyira.
The programme is recruiting 3000 interns for this current financial year. The basic minimum requirements is a grade 12 qualification and persons who wish to be part of the programme can download forms at onelearner@eaab.org.za. Closing date for applications is 10 March 2019.