Livelihood Security
C4L is moving rapidly into Enterprise Development. This is partly out of a recognition that the social skills imparted to youth over the past 7 years were not always money-spinners. They provide help to the "secondary beneficiaries" (namely OVC who receive care and support) but without income generation for the "primary beneficiaries" (namely the Youth Corps members).
More attention is now being focused on the livelihood security of youth. Thus the combination of some hands-on technical training (i.e. solar technician) with business training (i.e. Micro-MBA).
Technical training
C4L's core business is managerial training, not vocational. However, due to its renewable energy focus, it now offers training for Basic Plumbers and Solar Technicians in collaboration with AITF.
Being a good carpenter or mechanic does not make you a good businessman! You also need some business training. The two combined are the ingredients for Livelihood Security.
Youth say they would prefer jobs. But the truth is that the number of formal-sector jobs has been shrinking for 2 decades. Another 468,000 were lost in 2011 alone! The road back to a healthy economy lies across the Informal Sector - that is, through self-employment. Thus entrepreneurship training is mission-critical.
Entrepreneurship Training
In 2011, C4L 84 youth received their Micro-MBA at C4L. This is a Services-SETA qualification - at entry level.
In 2012, C4L plans to walk the second mile with 50 of those youth, by taking them another step up the ladder. It is offering the following qualification:
Business Pactice (Level 1) SAQA ID #61755
Mentoring
Youth at entry level always need mentors. In formal employment, one is usually there. However, in self-employment, they are needed no less.
This is one of the Volunteering roles that C4L promotes. So if you are ready and willing to mentor a young person starting in micro-enterprise, please contact C4L.
Blasts from the Past
In the past, C4L has taken an ad hoc approach - to provide support to various emerging enterprises among members of its Youth Corps.
Several small enterprises were started by graduates of the New venture Creation course mentioned on the Opportunities for Youth page of this website.
Another venture is ALLOVER CONSTRUCTION. With on-going mentoring from a local businessman in White River, five youth members formed a paving-brick company. For more, see the Success Stories page...
Another such group is a 15-member drama, music and dance troupe calling itself Jikelele Performing Arts Company. It was begun with funding from the National Arts Council of South Africa The plan for Jikelele to perform in local communities began in 2009 with VELDFIRE, a show it put on in Nelspruit (see the photos that follow)...
