Bea Law recently visited the Learn to Earn Project in Khayelitsha. St Andrew's is considering giving support for this project. Here is Bea's report on her visit.

Visit to Learn to Earn, 22 November 2007

Four members of St Andrew’s went to visit Learn to Earn, an NGO in Khayelitsha. First established in 1989 by the Baptist Church, this project has grown and embraced modern technology to become a most impressive operation. All staff are required to profess a Christian faith and their explicit mission is to uplift people- socially, emotionally, economically and spiritually. This purpose is to be achieved by teaching disadvantaged, unemployed and unqualified people, who are usually of low self-esteem, the skills which will enable them to earn a living – either as employees or as independent entrepreneurs.

Sewing, woodwork, cooking and computer and business skills are the preferred courses. Students have to pay 8% of the cost of their courses, which run for between 6 and 11 weeks. The woodwork course, for instance, runs for 11 weeks and costs R550. In it, students are taught to make trays and picture frames and other small items, which introduce them to the skills required by joineries, which may be their future employers. Whatever course a student takes, he will also be instructed in business practice and basic accounting. A system of job placement is part of the Learn to Earn programme and mentoring is provided so that new entrepreneurs, who run into problems or have need of advice on development strategies, have access to help, without excessive cost.

We were told that the baking course is particularly popular as it is easy to make things like pies, koeksusters and muffins at home and sell them on the streets. Another successful course is that in Graphic design (7 weeks) which follows basic computer instruction of 3 weeks. Graduates from the Graphic Design Course find they can take orders for cards and posters in the community and may use the Learn to Earn facilities at a charge of R5 /afternoon.

The St Andrew’s group were impressed by the efficiency of the staff and their integrated approach to the need for various basic skills and also for ongoing support to guarantee that new one-man businesses do not founder unnecessarily. We felt that the project already has sufficient funding but that we can help appropriately by being aware of what they do at the Learn to Earn Centre. Possibly suitable business could be directed their way or help offered in the form of mentoring.

Some photographs from our visit are available on St Andrew’s
Website and further details can be found on www.learntoearn.org.za

Learn to Earn: 021 361 5972
Sixuxujikati St, Khayelitsha