People's Post Maitland | Woodstock - 13 October 2020

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TUESDAY 13 October 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za

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People’s Post

KENSINGTON

Making the right call KAYLYNNE BANTOM KAYLYNNE.BANTOM@MEDIA24.COM

W

hen Jeffrey Petersen began offering cellphone repair training out of his Kensington home, he had one goal: to equip young and old with skills to start their own businesses. Petersen, who owns Cell Tech Academy, says he has always been a practical person. He says 20 years ago, after doing some research, he discovered there was a market for cellphone repairs. After he completed a twoweek cellphone repair course at an academic facility in Wynberg, he set out to start his own academy. “I am passionate about what I do and I want people to walk away from here equipped with the necessary skills and confidence to start their own business,” says Petersen. His academy equips trainees with the skills required to become cellphone technicians – enabling them to use repair tools, fix dropped or water-damaged phones and to replace damaged parts. Trainees are also taught how to fix various software problems. Petersen says once trainees complete the course, they receive a certificate and a starter pack containing several tools needed to repair cellphones. “That is basically everything they would need to become an entrepreneur,” adds Petersen. He says this is his way of ploughing back into his community. He also offers training in Bloemfontein, East London, Durban, Kimberley, Pretoria and Johannesburg. Petersen says: “The courses are open to men and women from all ages and it’s really just about teaching people. There is no criteria involved. All you need is an ‘I want to learn’ attitude. I try and explain things easily; I’m a practical person so I don’t like complicated things.” Costa Juru, originally from Zimbabwe, completed the course six years ago. “I was doing cellphone repairs in Zimbabwe as well, but those were just basic things. Since I completed the course, I was taught a whole range of skills and it enabled me to find a better job than the one I had,” Juru says. Fellow trainee Brandon Groenewald says his fascination with gadgets and cellphones led him to the academy. He says the course

Jeffrey Petersen, owner of Cell Tech Academy, equips trainees to become cellphone technicians. was affordable, considering the skills he learnt. “I saw the advertisement for the course on the internet and grabbed the opportunity. I then quit my job and started doing cellphone repairs from home,” says Groenewald. He adds that his business was doing well until the start of the lockdown, but he hopes it will pick up again soon. Leroy Ford is from Bloemfontein. He says completing the course was the best entrepreneurial decision he could have made.

“I started my own repair business a week after I completed the course. That was two years ago and business is going well and I am happy,” says Ford. Petersen says he hopes his Skills Education Training Authority (Seta) accreditation will soon be finalised as he has plans to expand the academy. “I want to grow my business by getting an office space from where I will start a training centre,” he says. He also plans on stocking tools and spares for cellphone technicians, which he currently

PHOTO: KAYLYNNE BANTOM

supplies on request. Petersen admits the past 20 years have not been easy. He calls on provincial and national governments to invest in local businesses. “I often struggle with funding. With funding, I will be able to get young people off the street and teach them,” adds Petersen. For now, Petersen takes pride in seeing his trainees use their skills to become entrepreneurs – fixing one broken cellphone at a time. V To join the academy, visit http://www.celltechacademy.co.za/.

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