AS part of a poverty alleviation programme 287 young people from various villages in the N'wamitwa area were provided with skills at Msiphana village near Tzaneen in Limpopo.

Hosi Felia N'wamitwa said the young people were trained in various skills when he blessed the N'wamitwa Centre and food security project at the weekend.

N'wamitwa said the centre also accommodated the Xitsavi youth project that focused on food security. The food security programme at Nyakelane village included a vegetable garden and fish breeding.

N'wamitwa said the Xitsavi project started operating from a hut that was also used as an office. She said the hut was built by her father next to the N'wamitwa Royal Palace in 1931.

She said the project moved to its new home in the centre in December and hosted last year's HIV Alliance Candlelight Memorial.

According to N'wamitwa, 60% of young men and women trained at the centre had been placed in paid jobs in bigger businesses.

Twenty-nine young people who received basic skills were furthering their studies at various universities and colleges.

She said 30 young people had been subsidised to get their driver's licences.

"The skills programmes provided by our centre are designed in such a way that each trainee will be fit for work as soon as they complete their training," N'wamitwa said.

She added that 14 young people had recently completed courses and would be placed with local businesses in the hospitality industry.

N'wamitwa said eight learners were currently on the Small Bus Coach Operators Learnership, while 20 young women had also completed the Early Childhood Development programme.

Acting Mopani district executive mayor Othaniel Mushwana said they were proud of the project because it contributed to the economic development of the district.

"As district municipality, we see this project as the beginning of greater things to come," Mushwana said.