With unemployment rates so high, most students in Umtwalume graduate from high school and cannot find employment for an average of 5 to 10 years. It is during this time that some young adults turn to crime and begin to value their futures less; some become infected with HIV/AIDS. Our goal is to bridge the gap between high school and employment. Through their close relationships with the students, our teachers get to know what each student wants from their future. Teachers then work to find information about potential jobs, scholarships, and internships related to that field. We work on making connections with local businesses and organizations to explore available opportunities for the students.
Thanda ASP also tries to get the students to think more creatively and innovatively about starting enterprises within their own community. There is an unfortunate exodus of youth to the city, driven out of their community by a lack of jobs. Some end up working low wage jobs, and others spend years searching for employment. To prevent this scenario, Thanda ASP students are given business and entrepreneurship training. Group projects allow them to experiment with planning, budgets, and marketing as it relates to their activity. We will also be available to help graduating students with business plans and financing as they start their own business or organization. We also plan to start an Agriculture, Construction, and Carpentry program in the future, which will give students valuable skills for the marketplace and their community.
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