Funding Proposal
Auto Detailing Vocational Training
Background information
The Carpenter’s Shop (TCS) officially opened its doors in 1981.
Today, it offers and supports clients with access to free ablution facilities, vocational skills training that enable its clients to successfully be re-integrated in to society, learn a new skill, with the ultimate aim of them earning an income and reintegrating with their communities.
The organisation offers three main interventions:
1.Vocational training which comprises Auto Detailing and Carpentry (both of which are underpinned with extensive training in life-skills and job readiness.)
2.Ablution facilities for street people, available free of charge from 7.30am to 10am Monday to Friday.
3.Geoff Burton House, a second-phase residential facility, offers comfortable and affordable accommodation for up to 40 people. The residents are all employed, pay a nominal weekly rent and live independently.
The organisation is run by a highly experienced team including social workers, vocational trainers, social development practitioners and administrators. The Governing Body is closely involved with all activities and strategy and offer regular business, managerial, financial and operational oversight.
In order to ensure that the work of the organisation keeps up with sector trends and the ever changing needs of its clients, TCS is a founding member of the Street People’s Forum (SPF) – the advocacy and lobbying arm of organisations working in the sector. The SPF serves to co-ordinate work in the sector as well as liaise with other bodies and government around policy and legislation to facilitate systemic change. Duplication of services is avoided and resources and ideas can be more effectively shared among members.
The challenge of unemployment in Cape Town
South Africa’s single biggest challenge is its high level of unemployment, particularly among the youth.The official unemployment rate in South Africa in January 2015 was 24.3%. It is estimated that there is more than one million people between the ages of 15 and 24 in South Africa, 18% of which are youth in the Western Cape.
The perceived employment opportunities in the Western Cape, especially in Cape Town itself, has resulted in migration to the city of people in search of employment, placing further pressure on an already unstable labour market.
The two major drivers of unemploymentare a lack of skills and limited employment opportunities. The Department of Higher Education has acknowledged that majority of South African youth fall into the NEET group (Neither Educated, Employed nor Trained). According to the Western Cape Department of Social Development, more and more youth in the province fall into the NEET category – currently is 31.9%.
Few employers are willing to employ school leavers and they are placed in the impossible position of competing for jobs against more educated and experienced individuals. This has been somewhat reduced by the two-year youth wage subsidy. However, this is a temporary solution as many employers still prefer to hire staff with more experience.
A high unemployment rate can result in communities with high levels of poverty, crime and violence. Underdeveloped infrastructure and limited educational, developmental and healthcare opportunities exist.
Exposure to crime and violence has a profound impact – more than a quarter of individuals in the Western Cape have a parent or sibling who has been in prison, and almost a quarter report having family members who take drugs. School-based violence has also increased – revolving around gangs and the supply and trade of drugs, and although the gangs are run by adults, younger members of the community are used to carry out activities on the gang’s behalf.
It is clear that the solution to these socio-economic problems is to reduce joblessness, as this solves a range of problems: if there is enough to eat, and a roof over their heads, individuals are less likely to turn to crime; being occupied in training and then employment keeps youth off the streets and away from the gangs; and if one has a purpose, going to work each day, it helps to give focus and direction – allowing the individual to take his or her place in South African society.
A cost-effective and replicable solution
At least half of our applicants for the Auto detail course are young women who have children and are generally single mothers, some having up to four children. They have often left school without matriculating and therefore have very little chance of gaining employment.
We have developed a partnership with Auto Detail Centres (including AutoArmor in the city) who take our graduates into employment once they are trained by us.
The Carpenter’s Shop offers a six week course, with 10 trainees in each intake, in car wash, valeting and polishing skills. The three modules comprise the following:
- Car wash and vacuum;
- Full valet; and
- Polishing and sealants.
In addition to the vocational skills, trainees also receive life skills and job readiness training, where they are taught to better manage themselves and their environment. They also receive assistance with the development of a curriculum vitae, as part of their job readiness programme. This programme covers, work ethics, attitude, time management, and productivity, interviewing skills, presenting oneself professionally and conflict resolution.
At the successful conclusion of this training, trainees are placed in local businesses for job shadowing for a week. This is a vital step as it offers exposure to a commercial environment. TCS has a network of business partners in the auto detailing sector who assist in hosting trainees and providing work opportunities. Monitoring and evaluation of the intervention has revealed that more than half of the successful candidates obtain employment.It should, however, be noted that the project does not guarantee employment and encourages the participantsto seek employment opportunitiesas individuals.
A success stories
Susan was admitted to a provincial hospital after she was physically abused by her husband of 11 years. She has two small children and her husband was of the “old school”; he did not want his wife to work, but to stay in the home. Susan’s life was a happy one during the week but things changed at the start of every weekend, particularly when her husband started smoking tik.
When he lost his job, there was no money for food or electricity, but he refused to allow Susan to leave the house to look for a job. When Susan finally confronted him, he hit Susan in the face with a broken glass bottle, resulting in a broken nose and Loss of sight in her left eye.
The hospital social worker referred Susan to the Carpenter’s Shop, where she chose to participate in the Auto Detail course. The life skills programme was a life-changer for Susan. As the weeks passed, her injuries began to heal and she gained the confidence and courage to leave her husband and move with her children to her mother-in-law’s home.
Her husband, seeing that he was losing his family, agreed to go for substance abuse treatment. Susan began to understand that she did not have to endure with her husband’s financial, physical, emotional and verbal abuse. She was moving up and on and became able to prioritise her own needs and those of her children.
This process was initiatedby the TCS auto detail training, along with the dedicated service of the TCS social workers.
Ndulaze (24) from Guguletu applied to do the Auto detail training in January 2014.
After he left school he did not have the opportunity to further his education.
He really applied himself and worked hard to learn all that he could while he was here.
When the supervisor was approached by a car wash owner to recommend somebody to work in his business, Ndzulase was given the opportunity to show what he could do. After a few months he was appointed the manager of the car wash at the Engen garage on Voortrekker Road. His employment has had a very positive effect on him and his family where he is a financial contributor.
Monitoring and evaluation
There are several ways in which TCS monitors and evaluates its programmes.
TCS recently invested in an online monitoring and evaluation system, enabling the capture of information about all of its clients and the services and goods they have received.
Evaluation reports are used by management to inform the annual planning process, as they offer recourse for remedial action and give the opportunity to improve future outcomes.
Regular board meetings take place and maintain good stewardship of donor funding overseen by two chartered accountants who sit on the board.
The TCS Director is a skilled social development practitioner who works closely with all staff and clients to ensure best practice and smooth operations.
Sustainability
A diverse group of funders exists including government, corporate, trusts and individual donors. Donor relations and financial compliance are closely managed by the Director.
Income generation and sustainability underpins all work done at TCS and is part of both the auto detailing and carpentry programmes. Trainees are offered valuable experience in creating items for sale in the carpentry workshop and hands-on car washing experience in auto detailing.
TCS has carved its way in to the retail market with the design and manufacture of bespoke, hand-made wooden items. This arm of the organisation is set to grow and capitalize on the growing demand for wooden, recycled craft items. Auto-detail operates as a small business and has a growing clientele who make use of the Car Wash services because of exceptional service and cost-effectiveness (please see attached The Car Wash price list)
TCS has also embarked on a robust marketing and communications strategy not only to boost awareness of the work of TCS, but engage with its stakeholders via social media, publicity, online giving portals and via exciting campaigns.
The Board of The Carpenter’s Shop is committed to developing its enterprises in order to ensure sustainability and experts in all aspects of business consult closely around product development, marketing and sales.
Budget
Auto detail skills training (Car Wash and Valet)110 trainees per year
Budget 1 April 2015 to 30 March 2016
EXPENSES / ZAR
Trainee transport costs / 18000
Cleaning materials / 15000
Water/ Electricity/Refuse /Sewerage / 33588
Equipment Repairs and Maintenance / 20658
Salaries
Supervisor/ trainer / 112 667
Assistant / 72150
10% Financial oversight / 14171
10% Director’s oversight / 27410
Stationery and Printing / 2544
Telephone / 7632
Subtotal / 323 820
10 % Contribution towards operating costs / 32382
Total / 356 202
INCOME / ZAR
Dept of Social Development / 72500
Sales / 62 716
Trainee fees income / 18000
153216
Shortfall / 202 986
Amount still required per person / 3238
We request an amount of R 202 986 or R 3238to train 120 individuals in 2015/2016
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The Carpenter’s Shop – Auto Detailing Funding Proposal