Occupational Therapy students have been conducting group sessions at various COSUP sites since 2018. Although these sessions initially focused on life skills, the participants have expressed the need for the inclusion of vocational training. Skills offer an essential foundation and lifeline as part of recovery. They help clients regain control, confidence, and self-belief. 
At the end of 2021, COSUP Ikageng’s peer mentor, Thabo, approached a local businessman and asked if he could train the clients in woodworking skills. Although initially, all parties were enthusiastic and determined, unfortunately, due to the lack of tools, this training did not continue. During 2022, the staff at COSUP Ikageng asked the local businessman whether he would like to start the do the woodwork project again, to try and create a sustainable skills training avenue.

University of Pretoria’s 3rd year Integrated Healthcare Leadership students, which consist of students from nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology, audiology and human nutrition; worked together with the occupational therapy 4th years students, the businessman, and the COSUP Ikageng staff. 
This woodwork project will be beneficial to the COSUP Ikageng clients as they are provided with a new set of skills which will empower them to become contributing members of their community and society. Through this skills development project, the clients will be able to make and sell their wood projects or even find available work that requires these new skills which in turn generates an income for them. It is known that many of the COSUP Ikageng clients do not have a matric certificate which they have found to hinder their vocational pursuits. Through this project, they have the opportunity to seek employment. The skills that are developed also contribute towards building the clients’ self-esteem and self-worth as well as motivating them to stay on their chosen path of recovery. 

An additional benefit of this project is that it can be used to create awareness in Mamelodi about COSUP. It was initially envisaged by COSUP staff, to only incorporate specific individuals who have completed their responsibilities regarding their health sessions – to attend the woodwork lessons. This then becomes a motivating factor for regular attendance. These aspects have recently been adapted as this skills training is now open to all COSUP Ikageng clients who wish to attend. 
There are specific tools that they need in order to complete the projects and these tools are currently being supplied by the businessman, Sydney. The wood that is required for this project is also currently being bought and supplied by Sydney from a wood centre in Silverton, Pretoria. 

Sydney, the local businessman, stated that it was a “fast decision” to do something with the COSUP Ikageng clients and when he agreed to conduct these skills training. He never considered his personal gain, only what he could teach the clients and what they can benefit from it. When Sydney was asked why he is conducting this training he stated that “these people spend their whole day here at COSUP and come for their medication and afterwards have nothing to do, and this is disappointing. They are bored and there needs to be something for them to do, they cannot just drink their medication and sit.” This is what keeps Sydney motivated to train the clients as he knows he is “keeping their minds busy”. He is aware that this development in skills facilitates the process of being able to apply for work and thus being able to earn an income. 

As Sydney lives nearby, he hopes to use the days that the 4th-year occupational therapy students used on Mondays and Thursdays for their group therapy sessions, to continue the woodwork skills training. He would like to teach as many clients as he can. He hopes that these clients can learn how to train others and this way the project is able to continue after the students and Sydney leave this site. The clients have stated that they are grateful for this opportunity and for Sydney. They have found it easier to stay at COSUP Ikageng and focus on learning skills to make an income for themselves and their families.