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:

  1. Name all the steps necessary to build a hydroponics structure
  2. Demonstrate ability to complete all necessary steps to build a hydroponics structure
  3. Demonstrate ability to grow and harvest produce within a hydroponics environment
  4. Name three common problems with produce grown in a hydroponics environment and their remedies
  5. Demonstrate ability to properly fill out all necessary inventory and sales records
  6. Correctly name the components of income and expense reports
  7. Correctly identify issues as indicated by the income and expense reports
  8. Articulate three strategies to make corrections to the issues identified.
  9. Demonstrate computer literacy by passing the computer skills class by 75%.
  10. Complete a market research project.
  11. Write a business plan that includes the following:
  12. Description of community needs
  13. Possible business opportunities
  14. Proposed products or services that would meet the described needs
  15. Analysis of competition and strategies to compete in the market
  16. Funds needed for start-up and funding sources
  17. Income projections
  18. Break-even worksheet
  19. Cash-flow projections
  20. Balance sheet
  21. 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 / Activities
1-7 / 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.