NELSON MANDELA BAY SCIENCE &TECHNOLOGY CENTRE PARTNERS ON CLOTHING MANUFACTURING PROGRAMME
STITCHING TOGETHER SKILLS AND OPPORTUNITY
Participants are ‘sewing’ the seeds of their own success, gaining practical garment-making skills through a new partnership designed to connect STEMI education with real-world applications and economic opportunity.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Science & Technology Centre (NMB STC), in partnership with the Cape Business and Engineering College (CBEC), has launched a two-month Clothing Manufacturing Skills Programme aimed at equipping unemployed individuals with practical skills and opening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship in the clothing and textile sector.
Launched in October, the programme brings together 20 participants from Kariega, Despatch and Gqeberha for hands-on training in garment manufacturing. The curriculum covers garment design interpretation, pattern reading, fabric preparation and cutting, industrial sewing, garment assembly, finishing and quality control.
The training takes place at the NMB STC in Kariega, complemented by remote theoretical coursework. By combining classroom learning with practical experience, the programme gives participants an opportunity to develop technical competencies they can apply in a working environment or build on to explore self-employment and small-business opportunities.
In South Africa, where expanding access to skills development is an important part of broadening economic participation, programmes that connect education with practical application can help learners see how knowledge translates into real-world capabilities. Clothing manufacturing offers a tangible example of this connection. From interpreting designs and understanding patterns to measuring, cutting and assembling garments, participants apply the principles of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and innovation (STEMI) at every stage.
“Through this programme, we are demonstrating how hands-on skills development can connect learning with the needs of industry,” says Singathwa Poswa, Research, Innovation & Sustainability Manager at the NMB STC. “Participants are developing technical and problem-solving abilities while exploring how these skills can be applied in the real world. In the South African context, broadening access to meaningful STEMI learning is important to helping more people participate in a skills-driven economy. “
Participants were recruited through a public call for applications open to unemployed individuals living in Kariega, Despatch and Gqeberha who were interested in pursuing opportunities in the clothing and manufacturing sector. The programme also places emphasis on women’s participation in skills development, supporting efforts to widen access to technical training and potential economic opportunities in clothing and textile manufacturing. As the training progresses, participants will continue to develop their garment-making knowledge and practical experience. These capabilities can provide a foundation for seeking work in the sector or exploring small-scale clothing production in an entrepreneurial capacity.
Operated by the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), the NMB STC welcomes engagement from industry stakeholders, training providers and prospective partners interested in supporting skills development and expanding economic opportunities in Nelson Mandela Bay. Through partnerships such as this, the Centre continues to make science, technology and innovation tangible, relevant and accessible to the communities it serves.
