1. Another successful mentorship programme 2. Property Valuation Course



Another successful mentorship programme "I was impressed, enlightened and, finally, 'blown away'." So wrote one of the twenty-five participants in our Mentorship Programme No 2, which concluded a few weeks ago. All the participants successfully completed the programme, and were awarded their Certificates of Achievement at a special ceremony held at IEA Western Cape's offices. The programme is a combination of mentorship, training sessions, and research projects, spread over four months. Each participant is assigned an IEA member as a mentor, and can call on him/her for advice and support. Each participant must also attend at least fourteen of the sixteen training sessions, and complete a research project. The programme is free and, in line with our commitment to promoting transformation, we give preference to historically disadvantaged estate agents. It is funded by the Services SETA, which is the education and training authority for our industry. We asked the participants to give us their comments on the programme. "I can safely say that I'm a changed estate agent in that I can be of much more service to my clients in satisfying their needs," wrote one. "I found the course very refreshing and a challenge," wrote another. "I feel more confident about my profession, and look forward to facing my real estate future." Wrote another, in similar vein: "I am now more prepared to face difficult challenges that come along with the job." We thank all the participants, the course presenters, and the mentors, for making this programme work. Mentorship Programme No 3 will begin in a few weeks time - it will be an advanced programme for the twenty-four estate agents who completed the first programme last year. The next foundation-level programme will be held next year. Enquiries: phone Vivien Marks at 021 531 3180. Property Valuation Course IEA Western Cape has been actively involved in establishing a special valuation qualification for estate agents, which will enable them to register as Single Residential Property Assessors. The course is presented by the Cape Technikon, and it was therefore a great pleasure for us to attend the presentation ceremony for the candidates who successfully completed the preliminary module. We were especially pleased that eight of the successful candidates were products of our Mentorship Programme No 1. "Their enthusiasm and dedication has been inspiring," said Vivien Marks. "They are true entrepreneurs, they have established their own businesses, and they have already created employment for other estate agents." The full course consists of first-year modules from the tertiary diploma for property valuers. There is still a lot of work ahead of our eight candidates, and we wish them every strength and success.