Joshua Project

Skills development – a tool that serves a combination of purposes!

Willem — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:40:03 +0000

To teach children and youth carpentry skills benefits them in more ways than one.

By teaching the boys the basic skills of using tools in a proper and safe way, to make tables, chairs, dog kennels etc, we identify and develop their skills and interests.

Meanwhile we establish an environment wherein a relationship of trust and respect is built. Mentoring is part of the activity, maybe less measurable, but no less meaningful!

Children who are used to being neglected, and taught that they are a nuisance in the community learn to explore and develop their skills and get excited about what they can achieve. For us as mentors it is great to see that a boy who understands what it is all about, can transfer the things he learned to others, like the way to handle a sharp chisel to make a good wood joint.

Louis Tolkamp

Maintenance and Skills Development Leader

Educare Afternoon program – A preventative focused program for children between the ages of 6-16years

Willem — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:36:23 +0000

Every week day between 13:00 – 15:30, the Joshua Project comes ‘alive’ as the little kids race each other to see who can arrive at the building first. I have grown accustomed to their little faces, their voices filled with excitement as they ‘plop’ down their bags and reach out their little hands for a ‘high five’ or a ‘drukkie’.

Nothing is more satisfying and rewarding to see how every kid’s face lights up when after a long day at school, they are served with a snack and juice or presented with puzzles and games or a ball to play with. Each little child is so special to us and that is why we do our best using the M.E.N.D.(mentor,educate,nurture,disciple) program to develop these little kids to lead safe, meaningful and drug-free constructive lives. Each kid participates in our program consisting of a Bible devotion, scheduled AET (Communication and Mathematical Literacy) lessons and homework support program. Discipling,life skills lessons,crafts, games, sport, movies,dancing and drama all form part of the programs presented throughout the week.

Our main focus is to create a happy, safe and trusting environment for all kids who drop-in every day at Joshua Project.

Margie Hoskins

Educare Afternoon Program Leader

AET Classes – Providing better futures!

Willem — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:30:30 +0000

When Joshua Project opened its doors providing AET (Adult Education Training) to any person in the Pellsrus community, there was a big response from day one. From the word go, we had 20 people who were employed and wanted to attend classes in the evening. At our first get-together, the excitement was tangible. Slowly we could see how the people grabbed the idea of what AET classes would be about. Even though it was not computer classes in itself, the use of a computer to learn English and Mathematical Literacy were clearly an added advantage to these people who don’t really have access to computers at home or work. Now, almost 2 months down the line, the faces are familiar and the smiles come easier to the faces as the almost 30 learners enter our building. For the facilitators, the biggest joy is to see a person coming from not being able to read or write in English, to be able to communicate with more ease. Thank you for all your efforts Joshua Project team, Mainstream, Coca Cola Company and Media Works, it surely puts a smile on my face and a warm feeling in my heart to teach and facilitate here at Joshua Project! – Betsie Stols

Community AET growing fast

Willem — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 07:12:46 +0000

More and more adults from the community who didn’t finish school, use the AET (Adult Education Training) facilities at Joshua Project. We experience a weekly growth, currently (14 February 2012) we teach 40 learners on a daily basis. We are blessed to have 13 brand new PC’s available for this computer-based educational program. Children work 30 minutes on the PC, and then 30 minutes in their workbooks.
There is great excitement in the Joshua Project about this eagerness to learn, learners as well as the teachers !

Education and Life Skills

Willem — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:27:16 +0000

Attending school is a normal activity most young people are familiar with. People learn to read and write there and learn many other subjects. The children who are part of our Morning Educare Program are between10-18 years of age and have never been, or have dropped out of the mainstream schooling system and sometimes they are still unable to read or write properly. We educate and provide them with skills development opportunities so they can transfer to a trade school if desired. Some will attend only our schooling program before they seek to work.

Developing skills is the process of facilitating learning through a set of structured activities. It is intended to equip a child on the street with new or improved strategies for dealing with the daily life on the street and with specific situations that they are likely to experience. Many types of skills can help a child on the street to plan and carry out responsible and healthy choices. These include; life skills, practical skills, performance skills, vocational and livelihood skills.

Life skills are defined by ‘WHO’ as ‘abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal with the demands and challenges of everyday life’ (WHO, 1993). Some of these skills are mentioned below:

Decision making and problem solving.
Creative thinking and critical thinking.
Communication and interpersonal skills.
Self-awareness and empathy.
Coping with emotions and stress.

Skills Development

Willem — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:16:59 +0000

Manpower’s Talent Shortage Survey has revealed that 35% of employers in South Africa are struggling to find qualified job candidates, particularly in the engineering, skilled trades and accounting and finance industry sectors.

Those who learn a wider range of skills become more valuable as employees and more employable as job seekers.

We have already established a skills-development centre on our property where we are currently teaching woodcraft skills to the older children and would like to in the near future incorporate other skills as well.

The goal is to give learners exposure to the different fields of trade such as carpentry, plumbing, painting, electrical and mechanics. The Joshua Project will not become another training centre but only a means of encouraging and developing skills identified in learners.

A further purpose is to identify learners and to show them basic skills and if they are interested, they can enter the formal trade schools.

The aim is to establish a Mentoring relationship between the teacher and learner as they work together and learn together. The Joshua Project wants to teach the children basic skills like using a hammer, changing tap washers, changing a tyre etc and with that build relationships and trust, furthering the development of the child’s character.

Physical Care

Willem — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:16:02 +0000

A nutritious breakfast and lunch is provided to all the children who are part of the Educare morning program. We also give them the opportunity to take a shower and provide clean clothes.

Discipleship, Arts & Crafts

Willem — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:15:16 +0000

To be instrumental in the children’s emotional and spiritual growth and well being, children receive basic instruction in arts and crafts combined with spiritual programs. The objectives of these activities are spiritual growth and emotional healing. Children learn to express themselves through role plays, story telling and stage plays. Children learn to deal with their emotions and learn to cope with the difficulties they encounter in their families and in their community.

AET

Willem — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 06:13:55 +0000

A very exiting tool in our education program is AET, which is a special computer programme complete with workbooks, until grade 9. This is the step prior to (proceed with) high school or education for a profession or a job.

The term AET refers to Adult Education and Training and refers to education up to the equivalent of grade 9 (standard 7). AET refers to both literacy and numeracy. An outcomes-based programme, AET aims to provide basic learning tools, knowledge and skills, and provides participants with nationally recognised qualifications.

The four levels of AET training are equivalent to Grades R to 9.

AET includes training in:

language, literacy and communication
mathematical literacy, mathematics and mathematical sciences

The Joshua Project AET program is available to children attending our Educare Morning and Educare Afternoon program. We have been granted a community site licence which enables us to assist the broader community as well.

AET programmes are overseen by the National AET Board.