Makotse Women’s Club Jobs Skills Training Program
In order to address high levels of unemployment in Makotse village and the surrounding areas, Makotse Women’s Club is developing a job skills training program to encourage entrepreneurialship in orphans and vulnerable children. The goal is to provide options and opportunities for children and youth so that they can be self-reliant and help uplift the community. In addition to the topics below, one day a week will be dedicated to life skills: self-esteem, communication, health (HIV prevention), and conflict management.
Learning Objective: By the end of Makotse Women’s Club Hydroponics Job Skills Training, participants will be able to do the following:
- Name all the steps necessary to build a hydroponics structure
- Demonstrate ability to complete all necessary steps to build a hydroponics structure
- Demonstrate ability to grow and harvest produce within a hydroponics environment
- Name three common problems with produce grown in a hydroponics environment and their remedies
- Demonstrate ability to properly fill out all necessary inventory and sales records
- Correctly name the components of income and expense reports
- Correctly identify issues as indicated by the income and expense reports
- Articulate three strategies to make corrections to the issues identified.
- Demonstrate computer literacy by passing the computer skills class by 75%.
- Complete a market research project.
- Write a business plan that includes the following:
- Description of community needs
- Possible business opportunities
- Proposed products or services that would meet the described needs
- Analysis of competition and strategies to compete in the market
- Funds needed for start-up and funding sources
- Income projections
- Break-even worksheet
- Cash-flow projections
- Balance sheet
- Marketing strategy
Topics
- Technical training in the construction and maintenance of a hydroponics food garden.
- Computer literacy skills (Microsoft Word and Excel)
- Entrepreneurial skills (market research, business start-up, sales and marketing, and financial management)
Agenda
Week / Topic / Skills / Activities1-7 / Technical Training / Basic construction, specific hydroponics construction skills (reading and implementing building plans, welding, irrigation) / Building a hydroponics structure within specifications
6-11 / Technical Training (this will run concurrently with above) / Hydroponics agriculture, proper nutrient provision, irrigation, pest and disease identification and control, harvesting techniques, packaging, sales / Participation in hydroponics project for one full harvest cycle
12-24 / Computer Literacy / Microsoft Word, design basics, typing, Microsoft Excel / Two hour computer classes three times a week
21-40 / Entrepreneurial and business management skills. / Using Excel to develop and monitor a budget, market research, doing a SWOT analysis, development of a business plan, financial management, marketing and sales. / Some classes in conjunction with the computer literacy training. Classes will be two hours a week and self-directed, experiential assignments to complete.