Fifteen young men and women have stitched their way to a certified future after graduating from the Salesian Institute Youth Projects’ four-month Stitch Ahead Programme.
Their graduation on Friday, 29 May 2026, at the Institute in Green Point, celebrated their successful completion of a Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) certified course in garment construction. In just four months, these young people combined technical proficiency with creativity — demonstrating that they are ready for both formal and informal employment in the textile sector.
The graduates marked the occasion by showcasing a range of their own original products, proving that skill and artistry can be built in a remarkably short time when the right support is in place.
The final month of the course focused on an incubation phase, where students developed their own sample products and pricing strategies — a crucial step in building entrepreneurial thinking alongside technical skill.
Trained in the cut, make, and trim (CMT) methodology, graduates also received psychosocial support, intervention, and referral where needed — reflecting SIYP’s commitment to nurturing the whole person, not just the skill.
Giving Back to the Community
Beyond their own achievements, the graduates demonstrated a strong sense of citizenship. Despite often coming from challenging circumstances, they produced beanies, feeding cloths, and burping cloths for donation to the Christine Revell Children’s Home in Athlone — a remarkable act of generosity from young people who know what it means to need support.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The Stitch Ahead Programme was made possible through the generous support of local and international funders, including The Mauerberger Foundation Fund and the Next Foundation from South Africa, as well as Missioni Don Bosco from Italy, The Van Kesteren Foundation from Switzerland, and Robert Knitt and Associates from Germany.
To every sponsor, facilitator, and supporter who made this graduation possible — thank you. These 15 graduates are proof that investment in people always pays the highest return.
Read the original article as featured in the Atlantic Sun:
👉 Transforming Lives: 15 Graduates Celebrate Success at Salesian Institute Youth Projects