The mission of this project is to help reduce poverty in Abuja, Nigeria by helping the poorest people in this community to develop job skills and gain employment in the business sector.
Objectives:
- Help at least 50 people develop employable business skills over the next 12 months.
- Cultivate relationships with local businesses to better understand their human resource needs and partner with them to ensure that the program has business relevance.
- Assist at least 25 people to secure employment utilizing these skills over the next 12 months.
- Over the next three years, expand the program so that it becomes self-sustaining serving both unemployed clients (at least 50%), individual paying clients, and business clients.
Target Audience:
This program targets unemployed people with a basic education in English and Math. Preference is given to those in the lowest socio-economic group.
Methodology:
Students are selected based on applications and demonstrated competency on math and English assessments. Students are able to take up to two 10-week courses at a time. Each class is held three times a week for 1 ½ hours per session with at least 3 hours of lab or practice time each week.
Courses:
The program offers three courses of study:
- Business Communications:
- Basic grammar
- Punctuation
- Writing Composition
- Oral presentations
- Business correspondence
- Job search skills
- Computer Skills
- Keyboarding
- Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Small Business Accounting
- Accounting principles
- Financial Recordkeeping
Staffing:
This project initially utilized volunteer staff to teach the classes. A minimum of two staff were recruited to teach each class to insure adequate class coverage.
Staffing needs include:- Instructors (minimum of four)*
- 2 computer instructors (6 hours per week)
- 2 accounting instructors (6 hours per week)
- 2 business communication instructors (6 hours per week)
* One person may teach two classes. There should be a minimum of two classes for each program which must include computer instruction and either business communications or accounting.
Other staffing:
- Computer technician – Responsible for maintenance of machines as needed
- Program administer – Responsible for administrative duties such as processing applications, receiving fees, record keeping (part-time
- Business developer – Responsible for market research and establishing relationships with potential employers and business partners (part-time)
The program networks with other NGOs and churches to obtain volunteers to meet the staffing needs. Currently a sufficient number of volunteers have been identified and are being utilized.
Facility and Location:
Liberty Chapel Seventh Day Adventist Church located in Utako, Abuja donated space and utilities for the project. Other equipment and facilities acquired and currently being used:
- 2 class rooms
- 25 chairs
- Generator and fuel
- Restroom facilities
Computers:
Ten desktop computers and 10 laptop computers were donated and or purchased by Pfizer, Inc. and are also being used for instruction. Efforts will be made to secure additional laptops (up to 25) and make them available to students after successful completion of the program.
Donations are currently being accepted to continue this most worthwhile program.
Submitted by Juanita Trusty
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