Youths graduate from Salesians-Porsche training

by Erin Carelse · July 25, 2019

Five young women and 18 young men graduated as automotive mechatronics experts in Cape Town. Their training programme was a partnership between the Salesians’ youth projects and Porsche importer LSM Distributors.

Some 23 young men and woman from disadvantaged communities graduated after participating in a two-year training programme in a specialised field of motor mechanics.

They took part in the Porsche mechatronics programme at the Salesian Institute Youth Projects (SIYP) in Cape Town, becoming the project’s first cohort to qualify at the Porsche Training and Recruitment Centre South Africa.

Launched in March 2017, the cross-brand programme was the successful culmination of two years of vocational education as automotive mechatronic students, with specialisation in high-voltage and digitalisation at the Porsche centre.

It was born through a partnership between Don Bosco Mondo, the local Salesian Institute Youth Projects, and the local Porsche importer LSM Distributors.

“This project honours our founder Don Bosco, whose vision was to serve the youth and to build hope, open hearts and transform minds,” said Salesian Father Patrick Naughton, SIYP chief executive officer. “These students have shown what can be achieved when young people are given their chance.”

The increasing importance of digitalisation, electrification, and connectivity across the automotive industry created an opportunity for the new centre to identify and train technical talent for the group while tackling poverty and changing lives.

The programme was designed to give opportunities to bright young people, enabling them to release their potential, while also providing a solution to the need for more mechatronic talent within VW Group dealership organisations.

Students tackled vehicle maintenance as well as diagnosing and repairing all key systems of present and future vehicle technologies. The graduates are already qualified as high-voltage technicians for defined works.

“The automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental transformation,” said Daniel Schukraft, vice-president of after-sales at Porsche AG. “New technologies are emerging in ever-shorter cycles, and job profiles are changing through increasing digitalisation.”

“We need to guarantee premium-quality customer service in the face of this rapid transformation which is why programmes such as this are so valuable,” Mr Schukraft said.

The five women and 18 men were honoured for their achievement at a special ceremony held at Porsche Centre in Cape Town.