Phase Four: Skills Development

Even though basic skills will be developed during Phase Three, it is in Phase Four (Skills Development) that the main skill development effort takes place. The youth will progress through a series of basic tasks that will provide knowledge and practical experience of various skill sets and developmental processes. Candidates will be exposed to manual work such as: construction, becoming familiar with materials and agriculture in the form of sustenance farming. This basic foundation leads to the final developmental phase of advanced and human interaction skills. The youth will play an integral part in the infrastructural growth of the Ubuntu Village. They will also be exposed to management roles to facilitate certain components of the village such as: hospitality, entrepreneurial ventures, product design and further developments. This essentially gears candidates with the necessary tools to start their own business ventures, work for other businesses or enter a tertiary education.

The outcome of this approach is a group of wholesome, uplifted and contributing members of society who act as role models back in their own communities.  The UBUNTU Village underpins the whole approach.  The Village will provide temporary, caring and uplifting surroundings to aid the rehabilitation process.  The Village will address essential factors of food shortage, lack of shelter, economic stability, security and safety to provide nurturing conditions for healing and skill development.  It will incorporate all appropriate technologies and methodologies for sustainable living and respect for the natural environment. Our ‘graduates’ will become experts in the technologies for climate control and sustainable living – new technologies in great demand world-wide. With this new approach we are hoping to raise our success rates to over 400 rehabilitated youth per year, without counting the multiplier effect of the work our ‘graduates’ do in their own communities. Furthermore, this approach will be designed to a level where it can be transported and made to work elsewhere in South Africa and the world.

We are seeking your support and advice to move this approach forward and to seek funds for its implementation, particularity for the setting up and running of the Village. Over time we see the Village becoming self sustainable through its on-site business ventures run by the participating candidates.