Current Projects:

All our projects take place at the ENZA Skills Centre in Mbekweni.

Basic Computer Literacy/Life Skills (Employability) Programme:

This is an eight week combined Basic Computer Literacy and Life Skills programme.  The programme  was launched in February 2011 with the help of two qualified high school teachers.  To date 47 women have successfully completed this programme and another 15 are currently busy with the programme.  We use 4 donated computers as part of the training. The women are required to write and pass exams as well as complete a CV and 2 cover letters.  With some recent funding we have been able to acquire internet access and have incorporated the valuable skills associated with the internet in the programme. The life skills component of the programme is structured to give the women a chance to explore what employability options they have. Participants are engaged in making contact with organised work placements and participate in work trails/volunteer work. Regular follow-up is made on the employment status of  the graduates.

Course outline of the Life Skills component:

  • Personal SWOT analysis
  • Decision making skills
  • Goal Setting
  • writing cover letters
  • Interview Techniques
  • Addressing barriers to work
  • Time management skills
  • Job search activities
  • CV writing
  • Work placements

working on MS word

 

mock interview practice

 

Entrepreneurial Development Programme (EDP)

This programme was launched in September 2011 in conjunction with CAUSE Development Agency. After the women have completed the life skills and computer training they are selected based upon their potential willingness.

The Programme compromises of three main elements:
Basic sewing training:
This training involves basic sewing skills such as how to operate an electronically driven sewing machine, how to make a basic pattern and work from it, how to organise yourself whilst working, how to use utilize and manipulate fabric and minimise wasted scraps.

Basic Business Skills:
They are taught how to open and operate own bank accounts, how to make a budget, how to run your own small enterprise, teaching them how to source in order to help them start their own enterprise.

Product Specific Training:
Project management and sourcing skills for specific orders.
The 15 women currently enrolled on the EDP are the first group to participate in this 12 month programme. To follow their progress please click here.

 

Social Action Programme:

This initiative started from the women’s desire to use their skills to start community involvement projects in their neighbourhood. Women who are either working part time or are unemployed expressed the need to improve the community in which drug/alcohol addiction, homelessness, lack of parental guidance, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS/TB is prevalent.

Meetings are held once a week. An ENZA staff  member acts as a support facilitator to the group, helping them to bring their own ideas to realisation. These social action projects can be something as small as teaching  women how to knit  to that of opening up a soup kitchen.

The ENZA Skills Centre offers  them a quiet space with no household interruptions, away from  life’s daily responsibilities for an hour or so to  offer support to each other and discuss how they can implement their projects in the community.

Drug/Alcohol Support Group:

With the support of Al Anon, the ENZA Skills Centre  has been able to start a support group for women who have problem drinkers in their families.

”Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization or institution; does not engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self supporting through its own voluntary contributions, plus the sale of our Conference-approved literature.Meetings are free, anonymous and confidential. Our primary purpose is to help families of problem drinkers.”

Run by a volunteer, the meetings are held at the ENZA Skills Centre once a week.