On Friday, 11 September, Rhiza will launch a new community-based training centre in Orange Farm, designed to create opportunities for learning, entrepreneurship, digital inclusion and future-focused skills development.
The Hub has been established in partnership with the Orange Farm United Taxi Association (OFUTA), reflecting a shared commitment to creating greater access to development opportunities within the Orange Farm community. Through this partnership, Rhiza is able to bring skills development and other empowerment programmes closer to the people they are intended to serve.
The Hub will serve as a central platform where young people, entrepreneurs, learners and community members can access a range of empowerment programmes aimed at building sustainable livelihoods, strengthening local capabilities and contributing to the growth of the local economy.
Through Rhiza’s integrated development approach, the Hub will host several transformative initiatives, including:
- Skills Development Programmes: Focused on improving employability and workplace readiness.
- Robotics and Digital Learning Programmes: Designed to equip school learners with critical STEM, coding, digital literacy and problem-solving skills for the future of learning and work.
- Enterprise Development Initiatives: Supporting aspiring and existing business owners and suppliers through training, mentorship, networking and access to business growth opportunities.
- Digital Access Opportunities: Promoting technology literacy and helping to bridge the digital divide within the community.
“The opening of the Orange Farm Hub represents our commitment to bringing meaningful opportunities and essential development services closer to the community. The Hub will create a space where young people, learners, entrepreneurs and community members can access skills development, digital learning, enterprise support and other programmes that enable them to learn, grow and participate more actively in the economy. We see this as an important step in building a more empowered, capable and connected Orange Farm community,” said Rhiza representative Fortunate Masvinge.
The Hub also aligns with Rhiza’s broader mission of addressing social challenges through collaborative, community-driven solutions that promote education, health, economic development and digital inclusion. The establishment of the Hub builds on Rhiza’s broader presence and investment in Orange Farm, which includes an Mpathy Clinic and Amathuba farm that provides a practical learning environment for aspiring young agripreneurs. Together, these initiatives reflect Rhiza’s integrated approach to community development, creating access to health services, skills, enterprise development and pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
Community members, partners, educational institutions, government stakeholders and businesses are invited to engage with the Hub and contribute to its vision of building empowered, capable and connected communities.
