Skills development and enterprise development for young people with disabilities

NEED

According to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), there are approximately four million people with disabilities in South Africa. The study also indicates that only around 19% of disabled persons are employed compared to 35% of non-disabled persons, and 15% of disabled youth aged 15 to 24 are employed compared to 25.5% of non-disabled youth. These low levels of employment for the disabled population highlight their continued marginalisation and lack of independence within society.

According to a recent HSRC study, disabled people with more training are more likely to find employment when compared to those with less or no training.

OVERVIEW

Forest Town School's Skills and Work Experience Programme caters for the needs of 325 children between 3 and 18 years of age, with all types of disabilities ranging from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, partial sightedness, hard of hearing, ADD/ADHD, accidental brain injury, foetal alcohol syndrome, Down syndrome, learning disabilities, or a combination of the above. Children are drawn mainly from high density, low income areas with limited access to both employment opportunities and public transport facilities suitable for people with disabilities.

Depending on the individual's level of disability, Forest Town offers a range of enterprise development skills, accredited training in computer and administration skills, cosmetology, and waitering. Where possible, once students complete their two year training programme, they can operate a small business from home to serve their own communities.

In the final year, students work at various places of employment once a week to enable them to adjust and to get to know what will be required of them in their future employment.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS PROJECT

• The Skills and Work Experience Programme focuses on employment skills and rehabilitation
• Training is flexible, accessible and designed to meet individual needs
• All learners have access to the services of professional specialists free of charge. These include a paediatrician, orthopaedic surgeon, neurologist/neurosurgeon, ENT specialist, plastic Surgeon, ophthalmologist and dental Technician.

IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS

This project will be of direct benefit to the 30 learners currently registered, as well as their parents and guardians and other family members. This skills orientated programme gives teenagers aged 16 to 18 the flexibility to develop their potential according to the level of their skills. The curriculum used is multi-disciplinary and includes numeracy, literacy, life skills, basic accounting.

Forest Town School provides mentoring to prospective employers to ensure that their working environment can accommodate the needs of disabled people and that the specific needs of the graduate can be met. An occupational therapist monitors the progress of graduates in their work place to ensure that issues are resolved as they arise.

In addition, Forest Town School employs some of the Skills Programme graduates at their WEP@WORK (Work Experience and Enterprise Development). This includes a small restaurant and beauty parlour on the school premises, both of which are operated by students and graduates.

ORGANISATIONAL CAPACITY

Forest Town School was established in 1948 and was the first school for disabled children in South Africa. Since then the services provided by this school and supported by the Forest Town School Foundation Trust Fund, have gone far beyond just being a school.

Forest Town School is recognised as a leader in the development of treatment techniques for children and youth with disabilities. Their resident occupational therapist has written internationally published journal articles on the effectiveness of Botox treatment and of speech therapy for children and youth with disabilities. Forest Town was the organisation in South Africa to use Botox treatment to reduce drooling in children with disabilities. The organisation also designed the adapted nursery curriculum for children with disabilities which is used at various special schools in Gauteng.

Although Forest Town has sufficient resources to operate, it would benefit from employing more caregivers to help children with severe disabilities to perform basic tasks such as eating and going to the toilet.

RISK PROFILE

Key Strengths

• Concept: This programme has been adapted to meet the special needs of young people with disabilities thus affording them access to accredited skills development training
• Design: The programme is multi-disciplinary and is structured to meet the individual needs of learners
• Control: Social workers and occupational therapists are available to oversee learners and graduates. Forest Town School engages with all stakeholders at all levels through regular meetings – including the provincial department of education, parents and local business
• Sustainability: The programme is designed to prepare students for life after school by equipping them with the necessary skills to find formal employment or to operate a small business from home. Some students and graduates are given the opportunity to manage the resident business which serves as a platform to sharpen their business management skills

Key Risks - Low

• Design: Although the project is well structured internally, there is a risk that the graduates who start their own businesses will be exploited by their family members, or may struggle to find employment outside of incubated job creation initiatives such as the WEP@WORK
• External: As people with disabilities tend to remain dependent on their relatives, graduates that successfully generate an income may be exploited by their family members

Project Profile EDU-GP-MAR10-0001

Organisation: Forest Town School Foundation

Sector: Education

Project Duration: 12 months

Project Budget: ZAR 562 450

Shares Issued: 11249

Shares Available: -1

Risk Assessment (0 to 5)

Concept: 1

Design: 1.5

Capability: 1

Control: 1

Sustainability: 1

External: 2

Organisation Rating (0 to 5)

Purpose: 4

Planning: 4

Performance: 0

Resources: 4

Governance: 4

Sustainability: 3

Project Budget

Project Sector

Education

Many South African children face considerable barriers to learning: poverty, poor facilities, overlarge classes, a lack of facilities and resources, illness and family problems. And with so many of their parents struggling with illiteracy and poverty, the learning environment at home and in the community is less than ideal. If we don’t improve community access to a decent education in South Africa, the next generation faces a very uncertain future.

Quick facts

• Only 30% of the population over 25 had completed Grade 12 in 2003.
• Less than 20% of South African schools have libraries.
• South Africa’s education budget constitutes 17.8% of total national spending.
• An estimated 3 million South African adults are illiterate and another 8 million are functionally illiterate.

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SASIX Evaluation Metrics

The organisational rating

In partnership, Trialogue and The Funding Site developed an expert organisational capacity diagnostic test, which has been further refined by GreaterGood South Africa based on its consultations with Geneva Global and others active in this area. The result is a comprehensive evaluation and verification tool that GreaterGood South Africa uses to assess the capacity of non profit organisations according to both qualitative and quantitative metrics. The tool encompasses the purpose, strategy, performance, resources, governance and sustainability of the organisation and its activities. GreaterGood South Africa project managers are employed in the field to conduct the evaluations with the organisations implementing SASIX projects. The results of their findings are assessed through a peer review process, and then coalesced into the organisational ratings presented on the front page of each SASIX Project Profile.

The project risk assessment

In consultation with Geneva Global, GreaterGood South Africa uses a comprehensive risk assessment tool to evaluate target projects - a tool that encompasses the project's concept, design, capability, control, sustainability and external factors that will or may affect the successful implementation of the project. At the completion of the project, GreaterGood South Africa will issue a Project Performance Report that compares the actual life change with the expected life change forecasted on the front page of this profile. This report will also include the key lessons learned.

GreaterGood South Africa Services

Project identification - Through wide, expert consultation and screening processes, GreaterGood South Africa identifies top South African non profit programmes that address the greatest development needs in the country.

Site visits - In order to become a recommended SASIX project, GreaterGood South Africa's project managers must have seen the project first-hand and undertaken the necessary evaluation interviews with the project's implementer(s).

Desk research - International best practices and other references are used as benchmarks to measure the projects.

Peer review - Information gathered and project profiles are assessed through a peer review process.

Deal structure - GreaterGood South Africa's project managers work closely with the project implementers to establish the parameters with regard to the expected results, time-frames, monitoring processes, use of funds, budget and final evaluation.

When you invest in a SASIX project, GreaterGood SA will:

Document the agreement - Before funding is supplied to a project, GreaterGood South Africa concludes a Memorandum of Agreement with the organisation which covers expected results, timelines, reporting frameworks and acceptable uses of funds.

Assist with funds transfers - GreaterGood South Africa will assist with the necessary transfers of funds, according to the funder's requirements.

Obtain receipt of funds - GreaterGood South Africa confirms when the funds arrive with the project implementer.

Check progress - At around 3 months, GreaterGood South Africa confirms that the project is proceeding according to plan. The project managers are available to project implementers for advice and consultation on an ongoing basis.

Measure results - After the conclusion of the project, GreaterGood South Africa collects the necessary data and compiles a Project Performance Report which includes an analysis of the outcomes and the lessons learned. Each funder of every SASIX project receives the report.

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To fund this project

Please contact: SASIX
Tel + 27 21 794 0580
Fax: 27 21 794 2239
Email: sasix@ggsa.co.za

Postal address: Postnet Suite 293, Private Bag X16, Constantia 7848, South Africa