– with O&G around the corner, young joiner predicts

THE Linden Technical Institute has been equipping Linden youths with a variety of skills in the technical and vocational fields for over 60 years. But as time went by, and the bauxite industry, the mainstay of the township, could no longer provide them with employment, they were left to either wander the streets aimlessly or seek alternative sources of income outside of Linden.

This turn of events was as a direct result of the downsizing of the bauxite industry. And while the yearly intake at LTI continues to increase to this day, employment opportunities within the township, where at one time skills such as theirs were in great demand, continues to dwindle. Local joiner, Adrian Jacobs believes that the answer does not always lie in leaving Linden; that youths who graduate from LTI can find meaningful employment right in their own communities by marketing themselves.

BE THE BOSS

He also believes that they can create their own jobs; be their own bosses. Jacobs graduated from LTI in 2000 with a Distinction in Joinery, and returned the following year to pursue advanced studies in the same field. Immediately after graduating, he was able to land a job at a local wood-working shop, where he stayed for three years. But when things did not work out between him and his employer, they parted company and he began working with himself from his Wisroc home.

Today, he finds what he does more of a hobby than a job, even though it helps pay the bills. And while joinery is not his only means of employment, Jacobs believes that as a man, being able to supplement your income with your vocational skill may help to better provide for the family, given the continuous rise in the cost of living.

TRADE IS IT
“I believe that having a trade is very important; you can survive and bring up a family with it,” he said. He makes home furnishing such as wardrobes, chest of drawers and beds, and even pieces of handicraft such as ornaments, pen holders, wooden kitchen utensils. While many youths might believe that the market for such items is not readily available in Linden, Jacobs begs to differ as he has been getting orders, and even wishes for more time to meet the demand.

Many Lindeners, he said, are interested in this particular niche market, since it guarantees durability. “The thin materials that they use for the ready-made stuff is not strong enough, so the wiser ones come to the joiner for durability and items that are long-lasting,” he said, adding: “One man told me that he wants a wardrobe that when he use it, his children can be able to use it as well.”

He uses a special type of pitch-pine wood to produce his furniture thus guaranteeing longevity. At Christmastime, the joinery trade is more in demand, and youths can look forward or this time of year to market themselves to gain customers and to build their brand.

MAJOR CHALLENGE
The only problem, according to Jacobs, is the sourcing of the machines as a small- scale joiner since they are very expensive and difficult to source locally. He said that he can increase his output like many others in the field, if only he had the kind of machines he needs to get the job done, since most of his time is taken up in manual labour.

But all is not yet lost, as he sees a light at the end of the tunnel with the coming of oil and gas, and prays that the government sees the wisdom in establishing an industrial estate of sorts in Linden where all the various machinery and other equipment can be produced. “We already get the land and the human resources,” he said. “All we need now is the support.

And I believe that with all this talk about oil and gas, an industry where all of the skills can be able to come together and produce items that will be needed for oil and gas production and even for export would be good for the small man.” With that in mind, Jacobs is working assiduously on expanding his joinery business in time for that first oil.