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0 viewsThe low numbers of economically-active people in South Africa are alarming. In 2001, 16.5 million people were active in the job market. By 2010, this number had grown to 17.1million – an increase of only 538 000 people in nine years.
If Government mined the expertise of non-profit organisations like Learn to Earn (LtE) in Khayelitsha, the statistics could be radically different.
LtE started out providing carpentry and garment-making training in 1989 and has since evolved into a sophisticated labour market specialist body. With a branch in Hermanus and 32 staff members, LtE keeps its finger on the pulse of the socio-economic plight of the unemployed poor and the needs of the labour market.
Key to their success, is the LtE research unit which studies the changing job market to ensure their training aligns with what prospective employers are looking for. As a result, LtE offers diverse preparation. Their most promising, a year-long graphic design qualification, now serves as a bridging course which places graduates into the four-year degree programme at the Stellenbosch Design Academy, Stellenbosch University and Ruth Prowse Institute.
To date, 9,500 people have graduated in basic computer literacy to a variety of artisanal competencies. LtE maintains a 10% drop-out rate and for the last three years has sustained a 79% success rate with helping people enter the job market. Of the 1,237 people trained from 2007 to 2011, 80% on average were successfully placed in employment, while an average of 8% have started their own businesses.
Why do LtE graduates succeed? Director, Roché van Wyk believes that employers know that LtE graduates are skilled for the market and are composite employees. LtE research has also found that the work turnover of employees is socially-related 80% of the time.
Issues of theft, substance abuse, time management, communication – such soft skills – often compromise the employee in their job. This is why LtE has since inception, underpinned their skills training with an intensive life skills component. LtE even demonstrates innovation in the way the organisation expands its methodology for addressing unemployment.
LtE’s growing list of established social enterprises, accounts for up to 40% of its financial sustainability, provides critical experiential training for their students and graduates, and presents opportunities for businesses to collaborate in mutually beneficial partnerships. Their Business Resource Centre helps graduates who primarily function as producers to grow their business with entrepreneurial skills. Their award-winning retail product ranges employ graduates and are proving lucrative.
LtE has also evolved into a training service provider for other organisations and is regularly commissioned to conduct research for international and local agencies. This social entrepreneurial gusto is infectious. Due to demand, LtE shares its model with other organisations around the country through their growing “Association Model”. Currently nine organisations nationally have worked with LtE and refined their responses to addressing unemployment in their communities with research, sound management structures, market-related and life skills training.
This recipe is working for LtE and it could work for others too.
Read about the creative ways South Africans solve public problems every week from the Impumelelo Social Innovations Centre, the country’s repository for solutions that improve quality of life for the poor. Visit impumelelo.org.za