The City of Cape Town’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) will upskill 144 Public Participation Unit (PPU) field workers in community development during this financial year. Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management visited Delft and engaged with the participants on Monday, 26 July 2021.
This programme will upskill 144 Public Participation Unit (PPU) field workers in community development, training and workplace experience. It aims to provide field workers with the necessary skills to identify early warning signals of risks and challenges and ensure proactive interventions and awareness of the various services offered by the City.
The objective is to develop unemployed persons with sound knowledge and understanding of Local Government and the dynamics within the communities.
During the training, participants will also assist with health education, awareness raising communication and behavioural change interventions.
‘These PPU field workers have been deployed by the City’s Public Participation Unit and are doing sterling work. They are at the forefront in assisting in their communities and are also the face of the City during this pandemic.
‘I am so happy to hear the progress and feedback from the field workers. Positive training interventions such as these are necessary as it helps people to practise prevention measures. At the same time, these field workers will also feel empowered, as the skills that they have acquired will enable them to influence positive change in their communities,’ said Alderman Grant Twigg, Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Management.
The non-pharmaceutical interventions are aimed at mitigating the spread of the Covid-19 virus in hotspot areas and ensure that residents comply with wearing masks outside the home, social distancing and that people know how to correctly wash and sanitise their hands.
EPWP workers have also been assisting with the screening of clients as well as social distancing at Covid-19 testing clinics/sites.
‘I am extremely grateful for the opportunity that the EPWP has given me. It has helped me to develop personally and as a result, I am a stronger person. I have also learnt that your future is in your own hands and I want to continue to make a difference,’ said Elthea October, an EPWP worker from Sub Council 6.